In a close-call incident that has sparked widespread discussion online, a baby stroller rolled into a fishpond in Fule Village, Youxi Town, Lianping County, Guangdong Province, on the evening of August 16. The baby inside was unharmed thanks to the quick response of local villagers, but the event has reignited concerns over public safety and parental responsibility in rural communities.
Surveillance footage shows a woman in a white top pushing a stroller while chatting with another woman in red near the edge of a sloped fishpond. At 6:07 p.m., the stroller slips from her grasp and begins rolling down the incline. The woman gasps in alarm and rushes after it, but fails to stop it before it topples into the water. In her attempt to rescue the child, she herself falls into the pond.
The second woman, still in red, immediately rushes to help, pulling the stroller out of the water. Another villager soon arrives and helps pull the first woman to safety. The baby, though shaken, was not injured.
According to the person who posted the video, the woman pushing the stroller was a grandmother out for a walk with her granddaughter. Distressingly, this was not the first such incident at the site. “The pond is about three meters deep,” the poster noted. “Last time, someone fell in with the stroller too. Yet no protective barriers have been installed. The village committee says building a wall would spoil the scenery.”
The incident has triggered a heated debate among netizens. Some argue that public safety should take precedence over aesthetics. “Even if a full fence isn’t allowed, wooden posts or simple stone barriers could prevent accidents,” one commenter wrote, urging the local authorities to act.
Others place the blame squarely on the caregiver. “From the video, the adult was completely distracted by conversation,” said a user. “This is a failure of supervision. Parents and guardians must stay alert, especially near water.”
Many also emphasized basic safety practices: “Always engage the stroller’s brakes when stopped, especially near slopes or water. No matter the environment, child safety should be the top priority.”
While no serious injuries occurred this time, the near-miss has become a cautionary tale about the balance between community design and personal responsibility—especially in rural areas where open ponds are common but safeguards may be lacking.
