DONGCHUAN, China, Aug 26: A three-year-old girl walked into Dongchuan People’s Hospital in south-west China with a fruit knife seemingly lodged deep in the side of her head, in an incident that has left local social media users shocked.

Footage outside the hospital showed the young child being guided by her mother, with the six-inch blade protruding just above her right ear. The girl appeared to be walking unsteadily while a hospital staff member in a white coat assisted them.

According to local reports, the mother, surnamed Hu, claimed the accident occurred while she was changing bedsheets. She said that swinging a sheet caused the knife to strike her daughter. However, a hospital staff member later stated that Hu admitted she had picked up the knife to “scare” the girl, who was throwing a tantrum, before accidentally stabbing her.

The knife became lodged in the child’s skull, with the handle protruding externally. Hu reportedly attempted to remove the knife herself but was unsuccessful, and instead of calling an ambulance, she brought her daughter directly to the hospital.

A neurosurgeon performed a craniotomy to safely remove the blade. The girl’s condition is now reported to be stable, and she remains under observation. A doctor told China Business View that the girl’s survival was largely due to the softness of her skull. “If the girl’s mother had recklessly pulled the knife out, the risk would have been enormous. The correct action was to seek immediate professional medical help,” the doctor said.

Police have confirmed that the incident was accidental and that there was no criminal intent.

The shocking footage quickly circulated on Chinese social media, garnering millions of views. Many users expressed disbelief, while numerous others criticized the mother’s actions leading up to the incident.