Firefighters rescue homesick Spider-Gran

A homesick grandmother had to be rescued by firefighters in China after she climbed out of the window of a fifth floor flat.

Zhang Yingfeng, 80, had been staying in son Tian Weitao's apartment in Hebi city, Henan province, but wanted to return to her village home.

Tian had locked the door as he was sure she would start to enjoy the benefits of urban living if she stayed with him and his wife a little longer.

But Zhang decided she didn't want to stay another minute and tied a rope around her waist before climbing through the window, reports the Henan Business Daily.

She had intended climbing down to the street below - but underestimated the length of rope and ended up dangling precariously in mid-air.

"I thought the rope was long enough to get me down to the ground but I forgot to allow for the amount I had to wrap around my waist before climbing out," Zhang later admitted.

Luckily she was spotted by neighours who called the emergency services and help was quickly on the scene.

Firefighters managed to temporarily support the grandmother with a shovel from a third floor window while a colleague lowered a rope ladder from the fifth floor to rescue her.

He rigged up a winch and managed to lower Zhang safely to the ground below. She needed hospital treatment for injuries to her fingers caused by rope burns.