An attention-seeker who falsely claimed to the father of a child run over and then ignored by passersby that he was involved in the incident has been detained by police, Shandong Satellite TV reported yesterday.

Students at Liaocheng University in Shandong province join a memorial service on Friday to pray for Yue Yue, who died more than one week after being run over. [Photo by Zhang Zhenxiang / for China Daily]

Zhao Xiaomao, from Xi'an, called the father of two-year-old Wang Yue after the child was run over by two vehicles and ignored by 18 passers-by in Foshan City, Guangdong Province on October 16. She later died.

He told Wang Chichang he was one of the drivers involved in the incident which has led to soul-searching in China over whether society has become more selfish.

Zhao claimed to Wang Chichang that he had ensured both sets of wheels went over his daughter, as he feared being burdened with high medical bills if she survived.

Several days later, Zhao called Wang Chichang again, this time saying he was a passerby who ignored the injured child.

On being held by police, Zhao admitted inventing the stories in a bid to be famous.

The two drivers involved in the incident have been formally arrested. One, Hu Jun, 24, has been charged with manslaughter.