A primary school student in Hengyang, Hunan province, survived a fall from the seventh floor after reportedly sleepwalking and climbing out through a small window in the home's security grille in the early hours of September 7.
According to a report cited by local media, the child fell at around 2 a.m., landing on a parked BMW below. The impact caused serious damage to the vehicle, including the sunroof, roof panel, and seating system, with an assessed repair cost close to 50,000 yuan.
The car is believed to have cushioned the fall. The child sustained scratches and fractures but was not in immediate danger and was later taken to the hospital for treatment. The report said the child was able to walk back home after the incident.
The incident later drew public attention after videos and posts circulated online. The BMW's owner, surnamed Zhou, was quoted as saying that his car had been purchased about two years earlier and that he considered it "fortunate" that the vehicle helped save the child. He said an insurance claim process was under way and that he planned to proceed with repairs, leaving the insurer to discuss compensation with the family afterward.
The child's parents initially took a cooperative stance, including contacting the owner to discuss compensation and offering to cover taxi costs while the car was being repaired. However, after learning the estimated repair amount, the parents reportedly asked that non-original parts or used components be used to reduce costs and requested that the owner delete videos documenting the incident, warning of possible legal action on privacy grounds if he refused.
The car owner said he could not accept those requests and described the negotiations as unpleasant. Police confirmed that the child was receiving medical treatment and not in a life-threatening condition and said the two sides were still negotiating compensation. The child's father later told reporters he did not wish to respond, saying he did not want to make the situation worse.
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