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A cash driven man who spent more than a year in a coma finally woke up when nurses wafted banknotes under his nose in an attempt to stir fond memories.

Xiao Li, 30, fell into a coma in August 2013 after spending almost a week without sleep at an internet café, where he was researching business ideas.

Nurses at a hospital in Shenzen, China, decided to waft banknotes under his nose in an attempt to rouse him after his family reported his love of money.

And to their amazement, he snapped out of his slumber almost immediately.

Chief medic Dr Liu Tang said: "We had asked his family what really drove him, and they were very clear that it was money."

"When we learned about his fondness for money we experimented with notes and change. We found a crisp, new 100 Yuan note crumpled under his nose worked best.

Dr Tang said they saw Xiao twitch his fingers as he tried to reach up and snatch the 100 Yuan bill - worth £10 - while his eyelids flickered.

He added: "It was extraordinary - I've never seen anything like it in 20 years as a doctor. Memories of smell and sound can be very powerful stimulants."

Now Xiao's family are keeping up the therapy at his hospital bed in Shenzhen while he continues his slow recovery.

Dr Liu said: "He still has some way to go before he is discharged from hospital but he is making good progress."