A cash-strapped migrant worker dialled the mayor's hotline after failing to get treatment for his sick daughter, who has been saved with officials' help, reports Shenzhen Commercial Daily.

Tan Jihu, who has been living under a bridge in Shenzhen with his two-year-old daughter, found the girl vomiting and crying in pain late Thursday night.

When she showed no signs of improvement after being given some over-the-counter cold medicine, Tan took her to Phoenix Hospital but could not get the girl admitted as he had only 5.8 yuan (70 US cents) in his pocket.

A desperate Tan rang up the mayor's hotline at around 2 am. "I have done volunteer work for 12 years. And I received a medal for donating blood regularly. Please give me a chance to save my own child," he pleaded.

An hour later, an emergency rescue was arranged for the child, who was diagnosed with acute respiratory and digestive diseases. She is now out of danger. Tan said the girl has been sickly after her mother was sold by human traffickers and killed when the child was just five months old.

"I can only afford to feed her rice. She is not getting enough wholesome food," said the father.

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