Story By: John Feng, Sub-Editor:  Joseph Golder, Agency: Asia Wire Report

AsiaWire

This is the awkward moment a Chinese pensioner becomes stuck on top of a metal fence after he tries to avoid a coronavirus checkpoint while sneaking back into his gated community.

The resident, 69, had slipped out of the Nanwei New Village residential area in China’s eastern port city of Shanghai by climbing the metal gate and fence on 24th February.

He had been cooped up at home during the COVID-19 outbreak and desperately wanted to go for a walk in the good weather, reports said.

But households now observing mandatory quarantine in gated communities are only allowed to send one family member out with a pass at any one time.

The document shows officials that the individual had been screened and tested before exiting, and that they have been abiding by quarantine guidelines.

However, the pensioner’s daughter had taken his family’s permit to go to work that day, leaving him no option but to scale the fence in order to get out.

He knew he could not get in again without a pass and would likely be detained for tests when trying to return via the main entrance, so he attempted to climb the same side gate once more.

This time, however, the man found himself stuck atop the fence with no more strength to lower himself to the ground.

According to witnesses who eventually called the police, the pensioner, who was not wearing a surgical mask, remained trapped on the metal gate for 20 minutes until the fire service arrived.

Footage shows rescuers setting up a ladder for the hapless pensioner to climb down.

He is given a mask to wear in the process and returned safely to his home having fortunately suffered no injuries.

Policeman Han Ruiqi told local media: “He was sitting on the fence and his face was pale. He was trembling and very nervous.

“He wasn’t able to string together any sentences.”

Local authorities let the pensioner off with a warning and decided not to punish him for subverting quarantine guidelines.

He is expected to be monitored for any sudden changes in his condition.

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