Three boys in Sichuan Province were recognized with Good Samaritan awards after an elderly woman falsely accused them of pushing her over and attempted to extort their families, local media reported.

Chinahaoren.cn, a website that recognizes China's Good Samaritans, awarded the young trio with a 5,000-yuan ($780) cash prize during an event on Saturday in Dazhou.

"This kind of malicious behavior should not stop people from doing good things. We want to show the world that good people are not stupid and they should not be wronged," said Tan Fang, director of the website.

The boys' ordeal began in 2013 when the three children came across the old woman, surnamed Jiang.

"She asked us to help her stand up. When I did so, she grabbed my hand and began saying I pushed her over," one of the boys told media.

Jiang was sent to the hospital, where she continued to accuse the boys and demanded 200,000 yuan in compensation from their parents with claims she had suffered broken bones in her back and ankles.

However, after checking Jiang's medical records and interviewing eyewitnesses, local police determined Jiang had fallen on her own and had not suffered any injuries.

Jiang was given seven-day administrative detention.

qq.com