A man in central China who had his nose bitten off while subduing an attacker to save a woman has been recognised as a national hero.
Zeng Fanlin, 69, from Chenzhou, Hunan province, previously served as a village official before becoming a volunteer mediator who helped resolve disputes among villagers.
The incident happened in April, when a man in his 20s entered the village and went on a violent rampage, attacking passers-by and kicking doors, according to local media reports.
The attacker later stopped a woman riding an e-bike and grabbed her by the neck. Fearing his aggressive behaviour, bystanders hesitated to intervene and called police instead, while the woman faced the immediate risk of being strangled.
Zeng, who was passing by, rushed forward and tackled the attacker. Two other villagers soon joined him in restraining the man.
During the struggle, the attacker bit off part of Zeng’s nose. Despite the severe injury, Zeng held on until police arrived. The suspect was taken into custody, while Zeng was rushed to hospital.