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A senior citizen in China has been praised as a hero after a public intervention turned into a shocking ordeal
Zeng Fanlin, 69, stepped in when witnessing a man allegedly assaulting and strangling a woman in a village in Hunan province.
According to Shenzhen Evening News, during the struggle, the assailant bit off a substantial part of Zeng's nose and swallowed it.
Despite the sudden and excruciating pain, Zeng held onto the suspect until other villagers, neighbours, and police arrived to make the arrest
The brave senior citizen recalled the incident to local reporters on 27 April 2026, admitting he did not even realise his nose was missing until a bystander pointed out the bleeding.
"When I got to the hospital, I was in so much pain that I almost lost consciousness," Zeng said.
The severe physical trauma resulted in extensive soft tissue loss, requiring complex reconstructive surgery
The Central Political and Legal Affairs Commission officially recognised Zeng for his bravery earlier this year.
Fortunately, Zeng has successfully completed the second phase of his surgery and remains on track for a full recovery within six months.
