A FARMER who amputated his diseased leg and became an internet hit is worried that people will soon forget about him and he may face death again.

Zheng Yanliang, 47, from Qingyuan county, Hebei, was diagnosed with arterial thrombosis in the lower limbs in early 2012.

After local hospitals refused to take him in or demanded exorbitant fees, Mr Zheng waited until his wife went to bed and within 20 minutes had cut off his right leg with a metal saw, a small fruit knife and a back-scratcher wrapped with a towel.

After his story went viral on the internet, Mr Zheng was accepted by a local hospital and received donations from people all over China.

Mr Zheng has long-term medical needs that his new rural cooperative medical insurance won't support.

Wang Zhen, an expert specialising in urban and rural medical security, told the China Daily that the rural cooperative medical insurance must be greatly improved.

Even before he hacked off his leg, Mr Zheng was known as his town's "tough guy."





Originally published as Man regrets cutting off his own leg