China's 'Millennium Baby' Qianqian dies at 25 from cardiac arrest

By Minh Nga March 28, 2025 | 07:09 pm PT

Qianqian, known as China's "Millennium Baby" for being born precisely at the turn of the millennium, has died at age 25 from sudden cardiac arrest, her mother confirmed in a heartfelt social media post.

News of Qianqian's passing quickly became the top trending topic on China's social media platform Sina Weibo on Tuesday, according to the China News Service.

Qianqian's mother, a teacher, shared an obituary along with a newspaper photo from her daughter's birth.

She recounted how, at exactly 11:59 p.m. on Dec. 31, 1999, as people counted down to welcome the new millennium, Qianqian was born, earning her the title "Millennium Baby."

Her mother chose the name "Qianqian," inspired by the Chinese word "Qian," meaning millennium.

Qianqian in a photo posted on her Weibo account.

Sudden cardiac death (SCD) is a natural death caused by cardiac-related problems, such as sudden cardiac arrest or severe arrhythmia.

Yin Yiqi, a first aid instructor with the American Heart Association Heartsaver Program, told the Global Times on Monday that SCD is like a "hidden bomb" capable of claiming lives without any prior warning.

Yin noted that SCD is relatively common and can be triggered by intense physical activity, underlying heart conditions, or side effects of certain medications.