Taichung, Taiwan — March 25, 2026
A 10-year-old boy was safely rescued last night after becoming stranded on a balcony air-conditioning unit on the fifth floor of a residential building in Xitun District, Taichung.
According to the Taichung City Fire Bureau, the incident occurred around 6:00 p.m. on Furei Street. Firefighters from Xitun and Xiehe divisions responded, deploying three fire trucks and ten personnel under the command of Team Leader Chen Jie-qi to carry out the rescue.
Upon arrival, firefighters found the boy standing on the outdoor unit of the fifth-floor balcony. Using an aerial ladder truck, the team safely reached the boy and assisted him back inside the apartment.
The boy’s mother explained that she had been busy with household chores and did not notice her son had gone outside. She discovered him only when she heard no response to her calls. She tried to pull him back inside but was unable to do so. The boy told rescuers that he had climbed onto the unit while retrieving stationery that had fallen during homework.
Fire officials confirmed that the boy was conscious and uninjured. He declined medical attention and returned home after the rescue.
The incident highlights the importance of close supervision of young children in high-rise apartments and the quick response capabilities of Taichung’s fire services.