A man from the central Vietnamese province of Quang Ngai committed murder-suicide after throwing himself and his 28-month-old baby from the sixth floor of a hospital on Thursday morning.

Ho Van Hai, 35, residing in Tra Quan Commune, Tra Bong District, jumped off from the sixth floor of the Quang Ngai General Hospital with his young baby, Ho Cong Phuong, in his arms, sending a wave of intense emotion through the hundreds of patients and doctors at the infirmary.

The two landed on the third floor balcony, with Phuong dying instantly and Hai being sent into a deep coma before being brought to the emergency room and passing away from complications relating to fractures in his pelvis, femur, neck, and face.

Hai took his son to the infirmary on Tuesday to be examined for diarrhea and malnutrition, said Pham Ngoc Lan, director of the general hospital. She added that Hai was was showing several signs of depression before committing suicide.

According to witnesses, Hai was speaking with a family member on the phone prior to the jump.

The conversation ended with the man breaking his SIM card, appearing nervous and frantic.

At around 6:45 am, Hai took his baby from the fifth floor to the sixth floor and jumped off the building, they continued.

Hai’s relatives stated that their family has a history of mental illness and their father is being treated at a local psychiatric hospital. 

One of Hai’s brothers also committed suicide two years ago.