Video footage has emerged of the shocking moment an alleged mistress nearly plunged to her death from 10 storeys while trying to hide from her lover’s wife. The clip, shared widely on social media, showed a woman climbing out of the 10th storey window of an apartment block in China, as a shirtless man watched on from behind the glass.

The man then disappeared from view, as the woman dangled precariously from the ledge before shimmying her way across the building in an attempt to reach a safer perch. One heart-stopping moment showed her appearing to lose her grip and slide down a drainpipe, before banging desperately on a nearby window.

Thankfully, the window was opened and the woman helped inside to safety. While the details of the incident have not been confirmed, local reports suggest a cheating husband forced his lover to exit through the window after his wife returned home early.

The viral clip has sparked major online discourse, with some criticising the pair for cheating and others questioning why she risked her life to avoid getting caught.

“The way my fear of heights just kicked in watching this,” one person said on X. “I’d rather take the beating than walk that ledge.”

“This lady needs to rethink her life, is this really worth it?” another asked.

A third added: “Imagine risking your life because you couldn’t stay loyal. This isn’t love or thrill – it’s pure stupidity.”

Meanwhile, a fourth commentator suggested the couple risked “social death” for the escapade.

While adultery is frowned on in many countries, it is particularly considered a moral failing in China, with the country’s traditional culture prizing marital loyalty and shared values.

Extramarital affairs may only carry social stigma for Chinese citizens, but they are explicitly banned for members of its Communist Party as a violation of its discipline and “moral code”.