A 51-year-old man staying at the Yaste Hotel in Wuhan died after a bottle of life-saving medicine remained unattended at the front desk for more than five hours.

At 9:19 a.m. on November 20, the guest—known as Mr. Hu—called his friend Han Shun, asking him to pick up medication from another friend due to sudden physical discomfort.

When Han arrived at the hotel, he could provide only Hu’s surname and his nickname “Boss Gua,” and therefore could not confirm the full name. He asked hotel staff to help identify the guest or to deliver the medicine upstairs, but his request was refused on the grounds that the staff had “no obligation to assist.” With no other choice, Han left the medicine at the front desk and informed Hu via WeChat.

The medication remained untouched at the counter for more than five hours. During that time, the hotel took no action to contact the guest or handle the situation. It was not until 3 p.m., when housekeeping entered the room, that Mr. Hu was found collapsed on the floor without vital signs.

The incident has sparked public outrage, with many criticizing the hotel’s indifference. While guest privacy is important, the hotel failed to show basic emergency awareness in a potentially life-threatening situation. Its refusal to assist and lack of action are widely seen as major factors contributing to the tragedy.