A two-year-old boy in China survived for several days on junk food and scraps after his mother died unexpectedly inside their home.
According to a September 21 report by South China Morning Post, the boy’s mother, identified as 28-year-old Zheng Yu, was discovered lifeless in their residence in Cangnan county, Wenzhou, Zhejiang province.
The child, nicknamed Mianmian, was found wearing a short-sleeved shirt and a soiled diaper, his body covered in dirt. Police said he had been able to survive by eating snacks, jellies, a pumpkin, and herbal tea that he found near their bed. Medical tests later confirmed that the toddler was unharmed.
Authorities were alerted in mid-August after one of Zheng’s friends sought help when she failed to reach her for several days.
Zheng, a single mother of three children from different relationships, was living with Mianmian, while her other two children stayed with their fathers. Mianmian’s father, who met Zheng online before their son’s birth in February 2023, revealed that she later cut off contact with him. He is now taking custody of the child.
The cause of Zheng’s death has not yet been determined. Her relatives, however, suspect a sudden illness, noting that she had shared videos online about her health struggles, including issues with blood pressure and blood sugar. She was also seen in some clips receiving medical injections.
