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Fran Lu

An eight-year-old boy in China who found himself alone in a stuck lift reacted to his predicament with remarkable calmness, garnering widespread praise online.
The surveillance camera in the lift of a residential building in northern China’s Hebei province captured the entire incident.
The unnamed boy, trapped on the 11th floor while en route to his flat, initially pressed the buttons for other floors and then gently tapped on the lift door to assess his situation.
Upon realising he was stuck, he pressed the emergency button.
Loudly yet politely, he informed the helpline operator of his situation and location.
The operator, from the property management company, reassured him that help was on the way.

After the call ended, the boy attempted to lift his spirits by repeating phrases like “Someone will come soon,” “Don’t be afraid,” and “Add oil,” punctuating his words with playful air punches to signify courage.
He was also heard murmuring: “I’m only eight, but I already have the fortune of being stuck in a lift.”
As time passed and boredom set in, he began reciting the classic Chinese poem The Ballad of Mulan, a work typically included in textbooks for older students.
A staff member from the property management company arrived within 10 minutes and opened the lift door.
Upon seeing an adult come to his rescue, he finally burst into tears but still remembered to express his gratitude with a firm “thank you.”
His mother was unaware of his mishap until he returned home.
She had sent him into the lift that day while his father waited for him outside on their floor. After a while, noticing that his son might be stuck, he went downstairs to seek help, only to find that the boy had already contacted the helpline himself.

The boy even proudly demonstrated his new-found knowledge, saying: “You have to press the emergency button for three seconds to activate it.”
His composed reactions earned him widespread praise online.
“He has a strong mind in his small body,” one commenter remarked.
“His recitation of poems was likely not just out of boredom, but a way to shift his focus away from fear. He is a clever boy,” another noted.
“Even in the face of fear, he managed to uplift himself and politely thanked the staff who came to assist him. He must have received an excellent family upbringing,” a third person observed.


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China boy stays calm by chanting classic poems while trapped in lift, gains online praise

A Chinese boy remained composed while stuck in a lift, pressed the emergency button to get help, and motivated himself with positive affirmations and classic poems. Photo: SCMP composite/Douyin

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Upon noticing an adult arrive to help, he finally broke down in tears, but still remembered to convey his gratitude with a heartfelt “thank you”.  Photo: Douyin

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People & Culture

After pressing emergency button to get help, boy tries to uplift spirits by repeating phrases such as ‘Help is on the way’, ‘Stay strong’


After pressing emergency button to get help, boy tries to uplift spirits by repeating phrases such as ‘Help is on the way’, ‘Stay strong’.


Children in China

China boy stays calm by chanting classic poems while trapped in lift, gains online praise

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}After pressing emergency button to get help, boy tries to uplift spirits by repeating phrases such as ‘Help is on the way’, ‘Stay strong’

After pressing emergency button to get help, boy tries to uplift spirits by repeating phrases such as ‘Help is on the way’, ‘Stay strong’