Chinese teacher working in Singapore dies after suspected snakebite while on holiday in Hainan

CHINA: A 27-year-old Chinese woman, Fu Qi, died in the early hours of 2 June 2025 in Sanya, Hainan, after being suspected of suffering a venomous snakebite while walking back to her hotel. Fu, a kindergarten teacher based in Singapore, was on holiday with her boyfriend when the incident occurred. The case has triggered public concern in China following allegations from her family that hospitals involved delayed treatment and misdiagnosed her injuries.

Sudden bite during evening walk

According to multiple Chinese media reports, the incident happened on the night of 1 June. Fu and her boyfriend were returning to their hotel when Fu felt a sharp pain on her ankle while passing by a flowerbed. She noticed two small puncture marks on her skin and suspected a snakebite, though the exact creature responsible was not immediately identified. After the bite, Fu went to the Sanya Central Hospital, where initial treatment was administered. A social media post by a person claiming to be Fu’s sibling alleged that doctors were uncertain about the source of the bite and opted to run blood tests before confirming a snakebite diagnosis. During the critical four-hour window that followed, Fu reportedly experienced vomiting and was given medication typically used for treating fever or minor infections. Her family claims that medical staff misjudged the situation, wasting valuable time. As her condition deteriorated, Fu was transferred to Sanya 425 Hospital. Despite further attempts to resuscitate her, she passed away within a few hours of the incident.

Official response and investigation

On 3 June, the Sanya Municipal Health Commission issued a public notice confirming that Fu had been bitten by an unidentified object and had visited two hospitals before succumbing to her injuries. Authorities stated that an investigation team had been formed immediately. Medical records from both institutions were sealed, and a joint panel of provincial experts has been assigned to review the case. Officials are also overseeing aftercare procedures and offering support to the bereaved family. Fu’s relatives expressed frustration over the response by medical personnel. They alleged that she had informed doctors at Sanya Central Hospital that she believed she had been bitten by a snake. However, doctors allegedly classified the wound as an insect bite, proceeding with only routine treatment. The hospital reportedly failed to initiate emergency protocols for snakebite treatment, did not administer antivenom, and did not inform the family of the need to transfer her to a better-equipped facility. Her family further criticised Sanya 425 Hospital, claiming that by the time she arrived, her symptoms had worsened significantly, and treatment was too late.

Victim was planning postgraduate studies

Fu Qi was an only child from Liaoning province and had been working in early childhood education in Singapore. According to her family, she had plans to pursue a postgraduate degree. Her sudden death during a short holiday in Sanya has sparked grief and outrage among those who knew her. Online reactions have echoed calls for improved medical protocols for treating venomous snakebites. In 2024, Liu Zelin, a Hainan provincial political advisor, noted in an interview that Hainan is home to 74 snake species, including 27 venomous types. He cited figures from Sanya 425 Hospital, which treated 3,336 snakebite cases in recent years, including 96 from the highly venomous banded krait. Liu had previously called for the establishment of a unified snakebite emergency treatment network across the province, pointing to the lack of consistent response standards and access to antivenoms.