Woman, 73, dies after being knocked down by Canadian tourist on Great Wall of China
Police initially rule it an accident, but urge relatives to seek compensation through court action before tourist leaves country on Saturday
A 73-year-old Chinese woman died on the Great Wall of China after she was knocked over by a Canadian tourist who ran past her.
The tragedy took place at midday on Wednesday on the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall. The Canadian tourist was a 38-year-old woman identified only by her family name, Fortin, according to a police statement posted on the official microblog of the Huairou district government.
Police ruled it an accident after a preliminary investigation, although a further investigation was underway, the report said.
The victim’s husband said Fortin was running down steps on a steep section of the wall when she collided with his wife.
“The foreigner was moving really fast. She was chasing [someone] and laughing and wanted to go between me and my wife,” the husband was quoted as saying by the Beijing News.
The victim, surnamed Cui, fell down and struck her head on a corner of the wall. Cui’s niece, also a witness, said Cui lost consciousness immediately and was bleeding heavily from her mouth, nose and ears. She stopped breathing soon afterwards, the niece said.
Cui’s son said his mother was in good health before the accident. She had come to Beijing from Heilongjiang province with her family.
Police advised Cui’s family to seek compensation through civil procedures because Fortin was not criminally liable, the report said.
Police told the relatives that Fortin was already booked on a flight out of China on Saturday.
