An 8-year-old boy in China tragically died a day after enrolling in a martial arts class. The injuries he had were allegedly inflicted by his martial arts instructor, reported Fox 10. The child has not been identified, but the location of the incident has. Chongde Juying Martial Arts Sports Club in Qingdao, Shandong, is where the boy reportedly signed up to take a self-defense class earlier in the month, the news outlet reported.
The boy's parents paid $1,440 for one year of coaching the day before he died, reported the New York Post. A disconcerting video of their son covered in bruises, looking pale and unwell, has also circulated online and was sent to the parents.
Several individuals who are connected with the martial arts sports club have been arrested and charged with “intentional harm leading to death," the news outlet reported.
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The boy tragically died only a day after joining the class.
The 8-year-old boy was reportedly signed up for one year of self-defense classes and coaching on June 17, at the Chongde Juying Martial Arts Sports Club in Qingdao, Shandong, the day before he died, per Daily Mail. The parents paid around $1,440 for the lessons. It was the following day, June 18, that the boy's father received a video of him around 11 a.m. looking “pale," the outlet reported.
Later that day, he died on the way to the hospital, 20 minutes before he got there, per Fox 10.
Several people connected to the club are under investigation and have been arrested.
On the day the 8-year-old boy died from the injuries he allegedly sustained at the hands of his instructor, the owners and one coach from Chongde Juying Martial Arts Sports Club in Qingdao, were arrested, reported the New York Post.
The club is currently inactive and an investigation is ongoing, the news outlet reported. The parents of the boy criticized the coaches for not taking him to the hospital sooner, reported Daily Mail.
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The martial arts club opened recently.
The martial arts club is coming under fire because although the boy has not been identified, the club's logo is clearly seen on the back of an orange shirt the boy is wearing in the video circulating, per Daily Mail. A woman is also heard speaking in the background of the video, apparently telling the boy if he does not get up, his mother “has told me she will not pick you up for one year,” per the New York Post.
According to the branch of Qingdao’s Public Security Bureau in Cheyang, an ongoing investigation into the martial arts club learned that it was only granted a license in April, the news outlet reported.
Readers were horrified at the martial arts instructor's actions.
Readers of the New York Post article covering the story were appalled and horrified at the martial arts instructor's alleged brutal actions against the 8-year-old boy. One
"Beyond heartbreaking," commented one reader. "The poor kid must have been so scared and in terrible pain. Hope those responsible rot. Rest peacefully."
"My grandson is 7 and is 6 mos into his martial arts training," wrote another person. "This boy was a year older and literally beaten to death. I have no words."
Still others pointed out that any adults working around kids need to be scrutinized and vetted for this exact reason. One commenter wrote: "Sick people that did this, cruel too. People that want to be with children should be scrutinized carefully."
If you suspect child abuse, you can call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-422-4453 (1-800-4-A-Child), or go to Childhelp.org. The hotline is available 24/7.
