China shop owner helps elderly man who faints & dies later, his family demands S$3,600 compensation

A shop owner in China stepped in to help an elderly man when he fainted in her card room, then was asked to pay compensation by the man's family after he passed away.

The family initially demanded RMB 100,000 (S$19,000), but after negotiations, the sum was lowered to RMB 19,000 (S$3,600), which the shop owner eventually paid, Chinese media reported.

This demand for compensation sparked controversy among Chinese netizens, who felt that the shop owner should not be asked to pay for her kind act.

Following the backlash, the deceased's family decided to return the money to the woman, and transferred it to her son's bank account on Aug. 26.

What happened

The incident at the card room happened recently in Hengyang, located in China's Hunan province.

According to CCTV footage, the elderly man, surnamed Luo, went into the card room and sat on a chair near the entrance.

The shop owner, surnamed Xiao, approached him, appearing to notice he was unwell.

She tried to get him to stand up, but when she got him off the chair, he suddenly collapsed and slid onto the ground.

With the help of another man, she carried him outside the card room, then stayed with him until help came.

Xiao's son later told Chinese media that when the ambulance arrived about five minutes later, the elderly man's vital signs were still stable, though he was unconscious.

Compensation

Following his death, Luo's family reportedly asked for compensation because the incident happened at Xiao's business.

They also threatened to place the body outside the card room if she did not pay, according to her son.

Xiao suffered discomfort, insomnia, and a loss of appetite as a result of the incident, her son added. The business also had to be closed temporarily.

Worried about her health, her husband agreed to pay the money demanded.

According to a mediation agreement cited by Chinese media, Xiao paid the compensation out of a "humanitarian concern".

The local authorities investigated the case and said that Luo's family should return this payment to the shop owner, as a way to encourage the community to do good deeds.

In a show of support, the general manager of a Hunan-based rice company visited Xiao's family and gave them RMB 20,000 (S$3,800) to help them through this ordeal.

The family apologised

Luo's family has returned the compensation money in full and apologised.

"There is no need for compensation if no wrongdoing was committed — we realised this today," Luo's son said. "We deeply apologise for troubling netizens and taking up public resources."

Xiao's son expressed gratitude for the support his family received from the community.

He said that the family will be donating some of the money received to charity, and will continue to do good deeds.