A man in central China has been hailed as a national hero after losing part of his nose while intervening to save a woman from an attacker.

Zeng Fanlin, 69, from Chenzhou in Hunan province, previously served as a village official and later became a volunteer mediator helping to resolve disputes among villagers. In April, 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 stopped a woman riding an e-bike and grabbed her by the neck. Bystanders, fearing the aggressor’s behavior, hesitated to intervene and called the police instead. Zeng, who was passing by, rushed forward and tackled the attacker. 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, and Zeng was rushed to hospital for treatment.

Sources recognize Zeng’s bravery and his role as a community mediator prior to the incident.

Sources