Heartbroken father prepares his critically ill daughter for her death by taking her to play in her future grave every day – so she wouldn’t feel scared when the moment comes

A desperate father from rural China has dug a grave for his critically ill daughter to ‘prepare her for her death’.

Mr Zhang Liyong, a farmer from Sichuan province, had spent all his savings treating the toddler, who was born with a serious blood disorder.

The father said he brings the two-year-old to play and rest at grave every day to get her ‘familiarised with her future burial space’.

A clip posted by Pear Video has revealed the heart-breaking story, which occurred in Neijiang city, south-west China.

In the video, the father lay in the grave while holding his daughter, Zhang Xinlei.

Little Xinlei was diagnosed with thalassemia, an inherited blood disorder, at two months old.

Mr Zhang and his family had spent over 100,000 yuan (£11,490) treating Xinlei, but they could no longer afford the medical bills.

We borrowed money from many, but they are no longer willing to lend us more’, Zhang said.

The couple thought of bearing another child to get the umbilical cord blood to save Xinlei. However, they realised the transplant wouldn’t be affordable after Zhang’s wife became pregnant.