A three-month baby girl falls into coma after being struck by an apple that had fallen from a skyscraper in Tangxia Town, Dongguan City of Guangdong Province. (Photo provided by the girl's family)
(ECNS)-- DNA analysis has helped police identify an 11-year-old girl living on the 24th floor of a skyscraper as responsible for causing a three-month-old infant to fall into a coma, the Beijing News reported.
The baby girl named Tongtong was diagnosed with a severe traumatic brain injury and traumatic shock at Shenzhen Children's Hospital after being struck by an apple that had fallen from a skyscraper in Tangxia Town, Dongguan City of Guangdong Province on March 9.
She was still in a coma at the ICU and not out of danger despite undergoing a series of surgeries, according to her grandfather.
A doctor surnamed Zhang said it's highly possible that Tongtong will suffer a sequela as there was still a cerebral hemorrhage. The medical cost to treat Tongtong had reached 130,000 yuan ($20,500) and at least 1,000 yuan a day was needed, even though she no longer needed a respirator, said Zhang.
The girl on the 24th floor threw an apple to feed a dog, but the apple dropped off the balcony, her father said.
The girl initially denied throwing the apple because she was afraid, according to her father surnamed Liu. But police later conducted DNA tests and traced the fruit back to her, causing her to confess.
Liu paid 30,000 yuan to the infant girl's family and pledged to take responsibility for her daughter's actions and pay medical fees and compensation.
China has seen several controversial cases where people have been hurt or killed by items falling from high-rise buildings. On Oct. 4, 2016, Piao Yinggui, a 66-year-old in Wuhu City of Anhui Province, died after he was hit by a brick. Because it was difficult to pinpoint the perpetrator, the local court demanded 133 residents from 81 families, as well as the building's management company, to pay more than 500,000 yuan. Some of the residents and the company have appealed the ruling.
