A Chinese man, who committed suicide, plunged to his death after firefighters were unable to rescue him from falling.

The man reportedly jumped down from the ninth floor of the building he was on and fell flat on the pavement. Firefighters, who came to the rescue, failed to catch him because the airbag that they prepared did not fit in the space where the man fell – thanks to an illegally parked Mazda car.

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The man landed right in the space created by the illegally parked car, between the building and the rescue airbag, reports the Beijing Times. The incident reportedly happened on Wednesday in Beijing's Xicheng District.

According to a security guard, a crowd had gathered outside to witness the tragic event, watching as firefighters were quickly inflated the airbag.

The guard said that the airbag was already inflated when the man jumped down from the building.

“But he missed the airbag and landed on the ground right in front of the car,” he said.

The incident has sparked online debates, with varying views about whether the owner of the illegally parked car will be held accountable for the man's death.

Suicide Rate in China Declining

This new report of suicide by a Chinese national is surprising, as earlier reports revealed that China's suicide rate has dwindled compared to the past decade.

The Economist reported in 2014 that in the years 1995-1999, for every 100,000 people in China, an average of 23.2 suicides happen annually. In the years 2009-2011, however, suicide rate dropped to an average of 9.8 yearly. In 2012, the official national suicide rate reported was even lower, at 6.9 suicides per 100,000 people.

Women in rural areas saw the most dramatic decrease in suicides, dropping by as much as 90%.

A more recent report, however, showed that according to a Wuhan University lecturer, the suicide rate among the elderly in rural, impoverished areas is rising, despite the overall decline.

TagsSuicide, rescue, illegal parking