Chinese woman, 20, survives 18th floor ‘impulsive’ jump after argument with boyfriend

A 20-year-old woman in eastern China miraculously survived after jumping from the balcony of her 18th-floor flat following a heated argument with her boyfriend.The woman, known by the alias Xiaoyi, had been quarrelling with her boyfriend for hours in their rented flat in Jiaxing, Zhejiang province, before she impulsively jumped from the balcony at 4am on July 12.Miraculously, she survived the fall, thanks to a tree that broke her descent before landing on nearby brushwood, according to the Xiaoxiang Morning Herald.Her boyfriend quickly rushed her to the hospital and paid 20,000 yuan (US$3,000) upfront for her medical treatment.Doctors discovered that Xiaoyi had suffered injuries to her head, lungs, liver, and spleen, along with fractures in her pelvis, pubis, and both legs.After undergoing two surgeries, she was scheduled for a third operation in late July.As she regained consciousness and stabilised, Xiaoyi disclosed the motive behind her drastic action. Her uncle, Li, who travelled from their hometown in Yingjiang county, southwestern China’s Yunnan province, to care for her, stated that Xiaoyi had quarrelled with her boyfriend multiple times before the incident.On July 10, she had expressed her desire to break up with him and bought a train ticket to return to Yunnan. Following another argument on the evening of July 11, the boyfriend withheld Xiaoyi’s identity card and mobile phone and even locked the door in an effort to prevent her from leaving.Trapped in a cycle of conflict, Xiaoyi resorted to extreme measures to escape her flat after discovering her boyfriend had locked the door and confiscated her ID card and phone. Photo: The Paper“My niece said she felt dizzy after arguing all night. In that moment, her only thought was to escape the flat and leave her boyfriend,” Li commented.Xiaoyi reportedly regretted her impulsive decision, her uncle added.Her story came to light as her family sought help from the media, facing financial difficulties to cover her medical expenses. Li revealed that Xiaoyi’s mother was diagnosed with cancer in 2022, leading her father to deplete their savings and borrow money for her treatment.So far, Xiaoyi’s medical bills have exceeded 100,000 yuan (US$15,000), with the family owing the hospital 60,000 yuan. They managed to raise 90,000 yuan through an online charity platform and planned to pay the hospital fees upon receiving this donation.Further ReadingHowever, the family felt financially strained in preparing for Xiaoyi’s third surgery as well as future treatment and rehabilitation costs.Upon learning details about their relationship, Xiaoyi’s family denied her boyfriend access to her hospital room after he repeatedly attempted to visit. They feared that his presence would upset Xiaoyi. Consequently, Li called the police, who intervened and persuaded the boyfriend to leave the ward.Doctors have identified multiple serious injuries in Xiaoyi, including trauma to her head, lungs, liver, and spleen, along with fractures in her pelvis, pubis, and both legs. Photo: The PaperThe police are continuing their investigation into the circumstances surrounding Xiaoyi’s fall.“My niece is truly fortunate. Just a few feet away from the green belt is a cement ground; she would have surely died had she landed there,” Li remarked.One internet user commented on the story: “Everyone has only one life. Impulsiveness is the devil. When conflicts arise, take a deep breath. Don’t gamble with your life.”Another remarked: “What a foolish choice! No one is worth sacrificing your own life.”If you have suicidal thoughts or know someone who is experiencing them, help is available. In Hong Kong, dial +852 2896 0000 for The Samaritans or +852 2382 0000 for Suicide Prevention Services. In the US, call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org for the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. For a list of other nations’ helplines, see this page