A seven-year-old boy is fighting for his life after being slammed into the mat 27 times by his coach and fellow classmates during a judo class.
The boy, known only by his nickname Wei Wei, is in a coma and is likely to remain in a vegetative state even if he survives.
The youngster from Taiwan had only signed up to classes two weeks ago, after convincing his parents to let him try out a new sport.
A disturbing video has emerged showing Wei Wei being thrown on a mat by an older classmate during the practice session.
In the footage the boy can be heard screaming “my leg”, “my head” and “I don’t want it!” but his coach keeps ordering him to stand up and tells the older boy to go on throwing him.
Wei Wei appears too weak to get up, but the coach picks him up and throws him several more times.
At one point, the child vomits, but the “training” doesn’t stop.
(Image: Getty Images)
Wei Wei’s family say he was thrown more than 27 times.
The small boy eventually passed out and was taken to a hospital where doctors found he had suffered severe brain haemorrhaging.
He is now in a coma and on life support.
His mother told the BBC: “I still remember that morning when I took him to school. He turned around and said, ‘Mama goodbye’. By night, he had become like this.”
The coach, who is in his late 60s and identified only as Mr Ho, has been detained for investigation on suspicion of negligence causing serious injury.
He has denied any wrongdoing, according to the Taichung District Court.
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The district prosecutor initially released him following questioning, accepting his explanation that what had happened to Wei Wei was part of “normal training”.
The child’s family held a news conference after his release, and the court subsequently said there was evidence to suspect the coach might have committed a serious crime.
They added that there was also a risk of collusion with witnesses, so it granted a prosecution request to place him in incommunicado detention – where he is denied contact with anyone except his lawyer.
Wei Wei’s family say they can’t understand how the coach could have treated their child this way and are determined to “seek justice”.
(Image: Getty Images)
They claim the coach initially told Wei Wei’s uncle that he was faking unconsciousness and later told his father that Wei Wei intentionally fell hard on the mat.
His parents remain by his bedside and although doctors say his chances of survival are slim the say they are praying for a miracle.
Mr Huang, Wei Wei’s father said: “When I visit him at hospital, I talk to him.
“I want Wei Wei to hear that we are waiting for him to wake up.”
