International

A 79-year-old disabled woman who was allegedly buried alive in a deserted tomb by her son has miraculously survived after being trapped in the pit for nearly three days, authorities have said.

Police in north-western China's Shaanxi province rescued the paralysed mother, known by her surname Wang, on Tuesday after the woman's daughter-in-law reported her missing.

The 58-year-old son, known by his surname Ma, has been detained and faces an attempted murder charge, according to the police. An investigation on the incident is underway. Disturbing footage shows Ms Wang covered in mud while being pulled out from the burial pit by two police officers.

On Tuesday morning, local police from Jingbian county of Shannxi province received a report from Ms Wang’s concerned daughter-in-law, known by her surname Zhang, according to an official statement.

Ms Zhang told the officers that the pensioner had not returned home after Mr Ma put his mother on a pushcart and wheeled her out of their family home around 8pm local time on May 2.

The police immediately summoned Mr Ma for interrogation during which the son confessed that he attempted to bury his mother alive in an abandoned tomb.

Officials soon located the burial pit and started digging the tomb after hearing someone screaming for help.

They surprisingly found the paralysed mother still alive after nearly three days without food or water.