- 20-year-old bridesmaid Zhang suffered a spinal fracture during a wedding prank in China.
- The prank involved tossing her in the air with a bedsheet, which caused her to fall and sustain injuries.
- Zhang was hospitalized for 18 days and received a 20% permanent disability rating.
- The court awarded her around ₹ 32 lakh in compensation after ruling the newlyweds were 40% liable for the incident.
- The court found that the man who suggested the prank was 20% responsible, while the remaining participants shared the rest of the liability.
- The incident occurred on October 4, 2023, during a wedding where Zhang was a bridesmaid.
- Zhang was pulled out of a closet and tossed into the air, resulting in a burst fracture of her first lumbar vertebra.
- The court's ruling aimed to highlight the risks associated with hun nao, a Chinese wedding custom involving playful antics.
- This incident has drawn attention to the dangers of wedding pranks, which have resulted in injuries in the past.
A 20-year-old bridesmaid, identified as Zhang, suffered a burst fracture of her first lumbar vertebra during a wedding prank in China on October 4, 2023. The incident occurred when participants attempted to toss her in a bedsheet, resulting in a fall that left her permanently disabled.167
Zhang was hospitalized for 18 days and received a 20% permanent disability rating following a forensic assessment. She later filed a civil lawsuit against the bride, groom, and nine others involved, seeking 270,000 yuan (around ₹ 38.37 lakh) in compensation.3
The court ruled that the newlyweds were 40% liable for the incident, as they were aware of the prank but did not intervene. Wang Moubing, who initiated the prank, was held 20% responsible, while the remaining participants shared the rest of the liability.45
The court ultimately awarded Zhang 230,000 yuan (approximately ₹ 32 lakh), with the bride and groom required to pay about 90,000 yuan, Wang 50,000 yuan, and the other participants collectively 90,000 yuan.
This case has drawn attention to hun nao, a traditional Chinese wedding custom that has faced criticism for dangerous antics. Similar incidents have occurred in the past, highlighting the risks associated with such practices.8
“The injury occurred when Zhang was tossed in a bedsheet and fell during the second attempt, sustaining a burst fracture of her first lumbar vertebra. The court found the newlyweds 40% liable for failing to stop the prank and the man who initiated it 20% responsible.”
