A 69-year-old man in China has been hailed as a hero after suffering a horrific injury while intervening in an alleged assault on a woman.
The incident took place in a village in Hunan province in April 2026. According to Chinese media reports, a man had allegedly begun attacking a woman in public and was seen strangling her.
Upon witnessing the incident, 69-year-old Zeng Fanlin immediately stepped forward to stop the attack and protect the woman.
However, the confrontation quickly turned violent.
According to reports, the suspect bit Zeng on the nose during the struggle, tearing off a large portion of it. Despite the severe injury, Zeng reportedly refused to release the suspect and continued restraining him while waiting for help to arrive.
Suspect Allegedly Swallowed Severed Portion Of Nose
Witnesses said other villagers rushed to assist after seeing the struggle unfold.
Reports indicated that the suspect continued resisting and allegedly bit off a significant part of Zeng’s nose before swallowing the severed flesh.
Villagers eventually managed to overpower the suspect and tied up his legs to prevent him from escaping. Police officers later arrived at the scene and took the man into custody.
The woman involved in the incident was reportedly rescued following the intervention.
The shocking nature of the attack has since attracted widespread attention across China, with many praising Zeng for risking his own safety to help another person.
Only Realised Severity Of Injury Later
Speaking to local media after the incident, Zeng said he initially did not realise how badly he had been injured.
He explained that it was only after someone pointed out his injury that he touched his face and realised most of his nose was missing.
As the adrenaline wore off, the pain intensified and the bleeding became increasingly difficult to control.
Zeng recalled that he was in such severe pain by the time he reached hospital that he nearly lost consciousness.
Doctors later determined that he had suffered extensive soft tissue loss, making the injury particularly complex to treat.
Multiple Surgeries Required For Recovery
Medical specialists developed a detailed reconstruction plan to repair the damage.
According to reports, Zeng has already undergone the second phase of reconstructive surgery and is expected to require around six months to make a full recovery.
Despite the traumatic ordeal, many have praised his courage and willingness to intervene when another person was in danger.
Chinese authorities have also recognised his actions. Zeng was recently included in a list of individuals honoured by the Central Political and Legal Affairs Commission for acts of bravery during the second quarter of 2026.
His story has since gone viral on Chinese social media, with many netizens describing him as a real-life hero who put the safety of a stranger ahead of his own well-being.