A 13-year-old boy in China faces the grim reality of a lifetime disability after a summer camp experience took a devastating turn. The boy was forced to perform 1,000 squats by a camp instructor as a form of punishment, an ordeal that has left he is permanently injured and unable to participate in physical activities.

The incident occurred on August 26, 2023, during the boy's final day at the camp. According to local news outlet Tencent News (十cent网), the boy's mother had enrolled him in the camp for a week, which included physical training as part of the curriculum. On the last day, the boy was caught talking to other campers and was subjected to a harsh punishment: 1,000 squats.

Unable to complete the task, the boy began to struggle after 200 squats. When his legs buckled, an instructor allegedly kicked him, causing him to collapse. The boy remained on the ground for 30 minutes until his parents arrived and rushed him to the hospital.

Doctors diagnosed him with rhabdomyolysis, a severe condition in which muscle tissue breaks down, leading to potential kidney failure. In addition, the boy suffered liver and kidney damage, and doctors informed his family that he would never be able to engage in sports again. His life took a drastic turn as he had to rely on crutches and a wheelchair, significantly impacting his education and quality of life.

The boy's family, devastated by the events, sought compensation from the camp organizers to cover medical expenses, tutoring, and transportation costs. After extensive negotiations, a settlement was reached, with the camp agreeing to a one-time payment of ¥18,000 (approximately RM10,800). The agreement also stated that the camp would cover medical expenses incurred during the boy's recovery. However, it misrepresented the cause of his injuries, claiming they were due to "overexertion" during the squats, not the punishment or the instructor's kick.

Despite initial assurances that the camp would cover future medical costs, the organizers later refused to accept responsibility for any further complications. Feeling deceived and left without options, the boy's parents filed a lawsuit in June 2024, challenging the settlement. They argued that the agreement failed to acknowledge the true cause of their son's injuries and demanded that the camp bear responsibility for any ongoing and future medical expenses.

The parents also contended that their son's condition was more than just an injury it amounted to a permanent disability, one that would affect his life far beyond what the settlement could address.

The case has garnered attention for highlighting the extreme physical demands placed on children in some summer camps in China, as well as the lack of accountability when things go wrong. As the lawsuit unfolds, the boy and his family are left to cope with the lasting consequences of an experience that was meant to be enriching but instead turned into a nightmare.