The family of a Chinese university student who fell to her death while taking a selfie is blaming the management of one of China’s most famous mountains.
The student, surnamed Deng, died at the end of October after falling from Huashan, known for its steep cliffs and terrifying hiking trails, in the northwestern province of Shaanxi.
Her family claims the barrier on the mountain was inadequate, while the management of Huashan National Park said the student was an adult who was responsible for her actions, according to a report on Monday by video website Pear Video.
Deng had been sharing selfies of her progress on the mountain with her classmates in chat groups until her sudden disappearance, the report said.
Her university, in the central province of Hunan, alerted the police a day later after failing to contact her, and also informed her family that she was missing.
Police examined surveillance footage and confirmed that Deng had fallen from the western part of the mountain.
A worker, surnamed Liu, at the tourist zone told Pear Video that Deng had ignored safety warnings, and that two employees had been standing nearby reminding tourists of the risks.
“We have evidence to prove that we have fulfilled our obligation in ensuring tourists’ safety,” Liu said.
The mountain authority has agreed to give Deng’s family 40,000 yuan (US$5,700) as “humanitarian aid” but the family feels the management should take full responsibility for the young woman’s death.
Deng’s mother, surnamed Yang, said the family was negotiating with the tourist site’s management.
“The management insisted they are not responsible at all. They said my daughter was an adult and her death was caused by her selfie action,” Yang was quoted as saying.
