When Lockdowns Turn into Heartbreak: A Father’s Tale of Tragedy in Gansu
Picture this: a sunny Tuesday in Lanzhou, the provincial capital of Gansu, where a 32‑year‑old shopkeeper named Tuo Shilei is busy juggling weekday chores and his family’s safety. That day set in motion a chain of events that would leave a family forever changed and crowds online buzzing with outrage.
What Went Wrong?
- Midday, Tuo’s wife slips while cooking—gas fumes hit hard.
- He notices his 3‑year‑old son, Wenxuan, showing signs of distress.
- Desperate, Tuo calls for an ambulance or police but can’t get a line.
- Wenxuan’s condition deteriorates in 30 minutes; Tuo tries CPR.
- They rush to the community gate—locked during the stringent city lockdown.
- Gate staff refuse entry, insisting on contacting authorities.
- Unable to wait, Tuo bursts through the barrier; a nearby resident hails a taxi.
- They reach a hospital, where EMTs battle but ultimately cannot save Wenxuan.
Because of the “Zero‑COVID” Policy
In the words of Tuo, the lockdown “indirectly killed” his son. He laments how the pandemic rules turned an emergency into a bureaucratic nightmare.
Key Points Tuo Highlights:
- COVID‑19 checkpoints halted help at the access point.
- Staff “ignored and avoided” the situation.
- Another checkpoint blocked the way.
- He was denied any assistance—his “series of events” caused his child’s death.
Official Response
Government bodies—from Lanzhou’s local authorities to the Gansu provincial health office—haven’t yet commented. The hospital itself remains silent. Meanwhile, Moscow‑style rumours swirl about whether pandemic rules truly warrant the “zero‑COVID” stance.
Why This Matters
Wenxuan’s tragic story has ignited an online uprising: a single hashtag on Weibo has racked up 380 million reads. People across China are questioning whether the zero‑COVID policy is worth the cost of real human lives.
Reflections from the Top
During the recent Chinese Communist Party Congress, President Xi Jinping stuck to the zero‑COVID pledge, standing firm upon the policy that sparked disruptive lockdowns nationwide.
For parents like Tuo, the cost isn’t just a policy—it’s a child’s memory forever faded.
‘Three years of Covid-19 was his entire life’
Tragic Crash Sparks Social‑Media Frenzy in Lanzhou
Over the weekend, a heart‑wrenching clip of a young boy—Wenxuan—receiving CPR while wedged onto a three‑wheeled truck went viral. It was the kind of video that forces your phone to shuffle to the next story: a frantic emergency, a desperate family, and a lingering question—did they get help on time?
Hashtags, Censorship, and a Murky Soothe
- “Three years of covid‑19 was his entire life.” – The very first tag that tripped up the highly monitored Chinese network, only to vanish in the span of minutes.
- Weibo chatter was emotionally raw: “The child’s last memory will only be masks,” lamented user Banmiaoxiaozhou.
- Another voice asked a biting question: “Is there any trust left in authorities?” – tagged Lawyer Zhong Guohua.
Wider Toll of Lockdowns
Stories of people stranded without medical help under covid‑era restrictions have been piling up, making headlines across the country. Remember Shanghai’s two‑month lockdown or the grim miscarriage that ignited national outrage in Xi’an? It was the same morning in January when a high‑ranking Chinese official snapped a warning: hospitals must not turn patients away.
Clashes Between Family and the System
Tuo, the father, has tried to keep his son’s death honest. He received a “$100,000” (about S$19,400) bribe from an alleged former local official, with the catch: sign a silence pledge. Tuo flat‑out rejected the offer, demanding a straight answer as to why his son’s life slipped away.
Aftermath and a Quiet Farewell
On a Wednesday, a modest funeral took place in Hezheng, the nearest hometown of the family. Tuo stayed away, newly terrified of a quarantine upon arrival. A small but heartfelt ceremony in a corner community shows the grim reality faced by families when policy and public health collide.
What We Can Learn
China’s zero‑covid tactics prove deadly efficient—yes, they saved galactic numbers of lives—but at what cost? The death of a little boy is a stark reminder also: “no law, no policy,” and a life that could have been saved if people could access healthcare in time.
