Mother dies in escalator accident at shopping centre

A mother has reportedly died in a horrific escalator accident in a Chinese shopping centre.

CCTV cameras showed the woman being dragged into the top of the mechanism, seconds after pushing her young child to safety.

Surveillance cameras showed the moment the panel gave way as the mother and child prepared to leave the escalator. Credit: CCTV

The two had been pulled into the escalator after the top step opened up.

Staff at the shopping centre in Jingzhou, in Hubei province, attempted to save the woman but could not stop her falling away.

Local media identified the victim as 30-year-old Xiang Liujuan and reported it took nearly four hours to retrieve her body.

The Wuhan Evening News said an investigation into what caused Sunday's fatal accident has begun with the shopping centre still to comment on the tragedy amid wide public fury on Chinese social media.

The newspaper said it was speculated maintenance workers had failed to secure the metal panel top step with screws after recently working on the escalator.

The pair both stumbled as the flooring opened up. Credit: CCTV
The woman, later identified as Xiang Liujuan, pushed her child towards the shopping centre staff as she fell between the panels. Credit: CCTV
Staff moved to grab the child as Xiang slipped further into the mechanism. Credit: CCTV
Attempts to save the 30-year-old mother failed as she was dragged down below the surface. Credit: CCTV