A French opera singer has thanked a doctor in China for removing a fish bone from one of the most important parts of his body, his throat.
The quick-acting medical man’s intervention in Shanghai has caused much comment and mirth on mainland social media.
Laurent Ban had been performing in Shanghai as one of the principal singers in the musical Mozart l’opéra rock.
In mid-July a fish bone became lodged in his throat while he was eating river fish, a common dish in China.
Ban rushed to Ruijin Hospital in the city to seek emergency treatment, according to Shanghai TV.
There, junior doctor Chen Yongxuan at the hospital helped remove the offending bone.
“It’s a luxury to receive your help, doctor. I am the opera singer actor you saved yesterday with the fish bone in his throat,” Ban was quoted as saying.
“I would like to tell you that you saved me, of course, and also the show, because I was still able to sing in the show that same night.”
“You are great, very professional. Thank you so much.
“See you soon the next time when I go to Shanghai. We will invite you to our new show,” said Ban.
The 49-year-old French singer has become popular on social media in China.
He has visited the mainland many times over the past two decades since he first came to perform in 2005.
He is affectionately known as Lao Hang Ban, which means “old flight” in Mandarin, because the pronunciation of his French name sounds like that of these three Chinese characters.
Mozart l’opéra rock will tour more than 10 mainland cities in the second half of this year.
Generally speaking, the removal of fish bones is seen as a minor procedure in China’s hospitals because eating river fish, which have easy to swallow thin bones, is highly popular.
In most cases a simple pair of pincers will do the job but sometimes surgery is required.
Ban’s hospital experience provoked a lively discussion on mainland social media.
“Why are only Chinese doctors good at retrieving fish bones? Because they do it a lot. It seems only Chinese people like to eat river fish while foreigners eat sea fish with big bones.
“Foreigners don’t know how to spit out fish bones while eating fish, haha,” said one person on Douyin.
“You can always trust Chinese doctors to remove fish bones. They do it so expertly!” said another.
