69-Year-Old Man Has Nose Bitten Off While Rescuing Woman From Violent Attacker
A 69-year-old man in China is being hailed as a hero after suffering severe facial injuries while intervening to save a woman from an alleged attacker who was assaulting members of the public.
The incident took place on Apr. 11 in Zengjia Village, Jiahe County, in China’s Hunan province.
According to Chinese media reports, the man, identified as Zeng Fanlin, witnessed a shirtless and heavily tattooed man behaving aggressively in the village. The suspect was reportedly attacking people and kicking doors before allegedly targeting a woman riding a motorcycle.
Witnesses said the man grabbed the woman by the neck and began choking her. He also allegedly threatened anyone who attempted to intervene.
Attacker Allegedly Bit Off Part Of Rescuer’s Nose
Seeing the woman in danger, Zeng rushed forward to stop the attack and became involved in a struggle with the suspect.
During the confrontation, the attacker allegedly bit off a large portion of Zeng’s nose and swallowed it.
Speaking about the incident later, Zeng said he initially did not realise the extent of his injuries.
He recalled only discovering what had happened after bystanders pointed it out.
When he touched his face, he realised that much of his nose was missing. Severe pain and heavy bleeding followed shortly afterwards.
Continued Holding Suspect Despite Serious Injuries
Despite suffering the gruesome injury, Zeng reportedly refused to release the suspect.
He continued restraining the man until other villagers arrived to help.
The group eventually managed to subdue the suspect before police officers reached the scene and took him into custody.
Zeng was subsequently rushed to hospital, where doctors treated his injuries. Reports stated that his wounds required a total of 115 stitches.
He is currently undergoing reconstructive procedures to repair the damage to his nose.
Recognised For Courageous Actions
The case recently attracted widespread attention across China after Zeng was recognised by the Central Political and Legal Affairs Commission as one of the country’s “National Heroes of Courage” for the second quarter of 2026.
Many social media users praised the retiree’s bravery, noting that his actions may have prevented the woman from suffering far more serious injuries.
The incident has since gone viral online, with many describing Zeng as an example of extraordinary courage and selflessness in the face of danger.