A 69-year-old man in China’s Hunan province has been recognised for his bravery after suffering a serious facial injury while rescuing a woman from a violent assault.
Zeng Fanlin was recently named on China’s 2026 Second Quarter Good Samaritan Heroes List, released by the Central Political and Legal Affairs Commission, in recognition of his courageous actions.
The incident took place at around 6am on April 11 in Zengjia Village, Puman Township, Chenzhou, when a man allegedly launched an unprovoked attack on a woman and began strangling her.
Witnesses said the suspect was highly aggressive, leaving bystanders afraid to intervene. While police were called immediately, the woman was at risk of suffocation before officers could arrive.
At that critical moment, Zeng, a retired village official and long-time Communist Party member, rushed forward to stop the attacker.
Inspired by his actions, other villagers joined in to help restrain the suspect.
During the struggle, the attacker bit Zeng’s nose, tearing off a large section of flesh. Despite the severe injury and intense pain, Zeng refused to let go and continued holding the suspect until police arrived and arrested him.
It was only after the suspect had been taken away that Zeng realised the extent of his injuries.
“At first I didn’t feel anything. Later someone told me, ‘Your nose is gone,'” he recalled.
“When I touched my face, I realised almost my entire nose was missing. By the time I reached the hospital, the pain was so intense I was close to losing consciousness.”
Local authorities immediately arranged emergency medical treatment and covered all of his medical expenses.
Doctors found that most of the soft tissue from the tip and wing of his nose had been torn away. Due to the complexity of the injury, he is expected to undergo four to five reconstructive surgeries, with a full recovery likely to take around six months.
Zeng is still recovering but said he has no regrets.
“Compared with saving a person’s life, what I went through was worth it,” he said.
His daughter, Zeng Yanjuan, said she asked her father whether he would intervene again if faced with a similar situation.
“He told me he wouldn’t,” she said. “But I know that’s impossible. If it happened again, he would still rush forward without hesitation because this wasn’t the first time he had helped others.”
More than a decade ago, Zeng assisted police in apprehending a thief and was recognised as an outstanding Good Samaritan at the county level.
Throughout the years, he has also served as the village’s public security officer and mediator, helping resolve neighbourhood disputes and safeguard public safety.
His latest act of courage has earned widespread praise across China, with many hailing him as an ordinary citizen who displayed extraordinary bravery.
