Toddler attack victim 'recovering well'

A 19-month old boy who was attacked by a 10-year-old girl in an elevator in Chongqing is recovering well after brain surgery and was transferred to an ordinary unit from intensive care on Dec 29.

His father, Li Shengzhong, told China Daily on Monday that doctors removed the toddler's surgical stitches on Dec 25.

The toddler, Li Xinyuan, was transferred to an ordinary unit at Chongqing Medical University Children's Hospital on Sunday, the first time he had left the intensive care unit since the attack on Nov 25.

The surgeon in charge, Liang Ping, told Chongqing Evening News the boy is recovering well, with no signs of post-surgical infection or bleeding. According to Liang, the toddler can now eat by himself and speak some basic words, such as dad and mom.

The boy's first brain surgery was on Dec 16.

The attack happened in the Changshou district of Chongqing on Nov 25, after the toddler's grandmother accidentally left him in an elevator with a 10-year-old girl surnamed Li. The elevator camera captured footage of the girl brutally attacking the child in the elevator.

The toddler was later found covered in blood outside the residential building.

Police filed no criminal charges against the girl because of her young age.

The incident triggered great public anger and experts recommended sending the girl to rehabilitation.