Passenger's family holds Shenzhen West Railway staff responsible for her death

A 59-year-old woman passed out shortly after she got on train K6578 bound for Huibei, Hunan province, in Shenzhen West Railway Station on February 9.

The woman, identified as Li Shuiqing, was pronounced dead after arriving at the hospital. Li’s family believes she would not have died if the workers at the Shenzhen West Railway Station had contacted paramedics sooner. However, the Shenzhen West Railway Station says their staff did their best to help Li.

According to, Li’s daughter, Li felt unwell before the two boarded the train to go back to their hometown the Nanfang Metropolis Daily reported. Several minutes after they entered the sixth carriage, Li passed out.

A steward reported it to the manager of the train. The manager delayed the departure and carried the patient out to the platform with the help of other staff members.

Upon the paramedics’ arrival, Li showed no vital signs. She was then sent to the People’s Hospital in Nanshan district for emergency treatment. About an hour later, the hospital pronounced her dead due to cardiac arrest.

Li’s family told reporters that Li didn’t get timely help from the railway station.

In response to the criticism, the Shenzhen West Railway Station said they had done their best to help the patient during the busy Lantern Festival period. Before the medical staff arrived, their workers tried to help, though none of the staff were trained medical workers.

Yangchun, a lawyer from Guangdong Pengxiang Law Office, told reporters that non-professional medical personnel are not encouraged to administer medical aid to sickly people. He also commented that if the railway station postponed calling for the paramedics to help, and the delay was more than ten minutes, they should be responsible for the case.

The video footage from the station backs up the Shenzhen West Railway’s Station’s claims that they are not liable. In the video, 20 minutes pass from the time Li gets on the train until the paramedics arrive. However, the emergency call took place only six minutes after Li boarded.