‘Desperate’ China courier begs guard for mercy on knees after toppling fence, sparking protest
- Police called in after incident which illustrates severe pressure millions of couriers across China are under to deliver on time
A food delivery worker in China who knelt and begged a security guard for mercy after accidentally knocking down a fence while rushing to dispatch an order on time sparked a protest by his courier colleagues.
On August 12, the courier from Hangzhou, Zhejiang province in eastern China, tried to save time by cutting through the greenbelt of a residential complex, accidentally trampling over the fence.
The security guard immediately confiscated the driver’s electric bike keys and asked him to pay a 200-yuan fine (US$28).
Hangzhou police said that the courier, fearing a delay in his deliveries, knelt down and begged for his keys back.
The incident led a large number of delivery riders to gather near the building to protest, forcing police to control the situation.
Videos shared on Weibo show angry riders pushing and shoving with the police, chanting: “Apologise to the courier! Apologise!”