A boy cracked a manhole cover by jumping on it and plummeted into a sewer below in southern China.

The terrifying CCTV footage was filmed in Chongqing on April 21.

A family of four was strolling casually along the sidewalk when their young son, drawn by the lure of a manhole cover and jumped onto it without hesitation.

Unexpectedly, the seemingly sturdy cover shattered and the boy disappeared into the dark abyss of the sewer below.

The terrified parents rushed to the rescue. They effortlessly lifted the lightweight broken cover and tossed it aside.

Fortunately, the manhole was not deep, and the boy was quickly pulled to safety without injuries.

It was later learned that the cover in question was designed for environmental beautification, allowing for the planting of flowers or grasses directly on it. Made from composite materials reinforced with steel and formed through a heated moulding process, these covers are noted for their excellent impact resistance and corrosion durability.

They are technically superior to traditional cast iron or concrete covers and are widely used in urban roads for various utility access points due to their design, light weight, and ease of installation and maintenance.

These covers cannot be repurposed, effectively eliminating risks posed by theft that could endanger pedestrians and vehicles, making them an ideal replacement for conventional manhole covers.

According to national regulations, these "grass basin wells" are intended only to be filled with soil for planting, not to bear loads, and should support approximately 300kg; they are also not to be placed in areas with vehicular and pedestrian traffic. Clearly, the manhole cover in the video was misused and substandard.

As of now, there has been no official response from the relevant authorities regarding this incident.

The video was provided by local media with permission.

4月21日，重庆街头发生了惊心动魄的一幕。一家四口正悠哉游哉地走在人行道上，小男孩看到路边的井盖，孩子天性好动，他毫不犹豫地跳了上去。谁料，那看似结实的井盖突然碎裂，眨眼间男孩就消失在了黑洞洞的井口，掉进下水道。
后面的父母见状，心都快跳出了嗓子眼，急忙冲了过去。爸爸跟妈妈一把掀起那轻飘飘的井盖，直接就扔了。幸好井不深，孩子很快被救了上来，除了受了点惊吓，幸无大碍。孩子一上来，妈妈就气急败坏地给了他一顿胖揍。
经过了解，视频中的井盖实为草喷井盖，是用于绿化环境的一种井盖，可以在井盖上种植花草或草坪。采用复合材料加钢筋，经加温模压而成，具有良好的抗冲击度和耐腐蚀性能。有着比同类产品（如铸铁、水泥类窖井盖）更好的技术性能和使用，广泛用于城市道路窖井盖，水箅，通讯检查井，天然气管道，化工基地检查井井盖，并且设计合理、重量轻、可着色等优点，给安装和维护鉴别带来了很大的方便，同时无法再生利用价值，从根本上解决了因偷盗给行人和车辆带来的危险，一致认为是城市道路检查井井盖的理想代替品。
按照国家规定，草盆井只能填满泥土种花种草，不能当做井盖使用，承重力要达到300kg左右，且不能安放至有车辆行人往来的道路上。很显然，视频中的井盖存在不合规的利用和质量问题，目前尚未有相关部门对此做出回应。