BEIJING: A woman in eastern China who was catching cicadas one evening with her husband accidentally fell into a sewage manhole, while the spouse, worried about her safety, immediately climbed into the shaft to keep her company.
The couple were successfully rescued by firefighters shortly afterwards, the Dazhong Daily reported.
The incident unfolded in Dongying, Shandong province, on July 15 when the couple were catching cicadas in a green belt in their residential community.
It is a traditional summer activity across Shandong to catch cicadas for cooking. The people from the province are well known for their love of eating this insect.
This practice has led to a common joke widely circulated on social media, saying that no single cicada is able to leave Shandong alive.
There are popular cooking methods to enjoy this seasonal treat, including deep-frying and barbecuing. Some restaurants also add cicadas to cakes and hamburgers.
As the couple, whose identities were not disclosed in the report, focused on finding cicadas; the wife accidentally fell into a sewage manhole that was five metres deep.
This happened mainly because the grass was slippery after a day’s rain and the lighting in the area was dim.
The woman sustained injuries from the fall and was unable to move inside the well.
Her husband, upon seeing his wife’s serious injuries, felt anxious about her condition, so he climbed down into the well to stay with her.
They then called firefighters for help using their mobile phones.
The firefighters soon arrived and found that the couple were in a critical situation due to the damp and dark conditions of the well.
A firefighter descended into the well to help the woman put on the rescue equipment, and his colleagues lifted her out of the well.
Firefighters instructed the husband to use the rescue equipment to climb out of the hole by himself.
The wife’s injuries were confirmed to be non-life-threatening, according to the firefighters.
Local authorities later reminded the public to pay attention to their personal safety, especially regarding sewage manholes or ditches hidden in the grass when catching cicadas in the evening.
Many mainland social media users commented on the couple’s experience, with some praising the husband.
“The man loves her so much. I believe in love again, ha,” said one internet user.
Another person remarked: “I would prefer if the husband stayed on the ground to guide the firefighters to find the sewage manhole quickly.”
A third person quipped: “I wonder if they will resume the practice of catching cicadas in the future.” - South China Morning Post
