A 69-year-old man who lost most of his nose after being bitten by a violent attacker while protecting a woman says he would do it all again. Zeng Falin intervened when a man in his twenties allegedly pulled a female cyclist off her bike and began strangling her in a village in Hunan province, China.
Attack and intervention
The attacker had reportedly been on a violent rampage, attacking passers-by and kicking down doors. Fearing police would not arrive in time, Zeng confronted the man and tried to wrestle him away from the victim, according to the South China Morning Post. Two other passers-by joined the effort to separate the cyclist from the alleged attacker. During the struggle, Zeng suffered a vicious bite that ripped off most of his nose.
Restraint and medical response
Despite bleeding profusely, Zeng held onto the alleged attacker to restrain him until police arrived. He was then taken to hospital, where doctors determined that reconstruction would be difficult and expensive. Fundraising efforts raised approximately £8,000 for a series of complex surgeries. The process of building a new nose is expected to take at least six months.
Surgeries and recovery
So far, Zeng has undergone two surgeries, during which skin was taken from elsewhere on his body to fashion two nostrils to help him breathe properly. According to reports, Zeng was orphaned as a child and grew up with the support of local villagers. He said he was glad to give back to the community, stating: "Compared with saving a life, everything I have given is worth it."
Recognition and investigation
Zeng has been added to a list of official heroes in China. The case remains under investigation by police, who say the outburst was caused by a loss of emotional control.
