The story of "Kangaroo Father", a food delivery worker who had his 8-month-old son strapped to his body as he went about delivering orders in winter, has generated much buzz in the city.

The 33-year-old from Jinzhai, Anhui province, works for Ele.me, one of the biggest online food delivery platforms in China. He was also found to be using an electric bicycle that was modified to fit a rain cover.

The deliveryman, Yu Shujiang, said he was forced to do so because his wife is nursing a broken leg. Moreover, his elderly family members are incapable of looking after the child and the couple is unable to afford a babysitter.

While many people have expressed sympathy for the man's plight, others have criticized his actions as dangerous. According to the law, only juveniles older than 6 years old are allowed to be carried on a non-motorized vehicle provided that there is a child safety seat. In addition, modifying an electric vehicle to include a rain cover is illegal.

After news of the incident broke out, Ele.me and its logistics partner gave Yu a subsidy equivalent to three months of his salary and a brand new e-bike. The company also ordered Yu to stay home and care for his wife. In order to ensure that Yu does so, Ele.me temporarily suspended his delivery account.

Chen Jie, a company representative from Ele.me, said that a charity organization under the company helped raise the subsidy, and employees were sent to deliver daily necessities and the cash to Yu.

"The employees conveyed our concern and explained the safety delivery standards to Yu. We look forward to having Yu come back to work at Ele.me after his wife recovers," said Chen.

Yu promised that he would not return to work before his wife recovers. His wife has also said that she would return to work and share the childcare responsibilities following her recovery.

heqi@chinadaily.com.cn