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WARNING: THE IMAGES IN THIS ARTICLE ARE EXTREMELY GRAPHIC

Aleksandar Krneta, 74, was spotted lying on the street by a passer-by who took pity on the helpless man and drove him to hospital.

Despite having his lips, mouth and nose eaten away by the disease Aleksandar was left waiting for hours to be examined – only to be told to come back later.

The good Samaritan argued angrily with hospital staff in the Serbian capital of Belgrade but the pair were sent packing.

The unnamed man told local media he had been stunned by the lack of care from the hospital's accident and emergency department.

He said: "The man was in incredible pain. He didn't even have a mouth to eat any more and was soaking old dry bread in water so that he could swallow it by shoving it directly down his throat. And they said it was not urgent.

"The nurse said that the old man was lying when he claimed he had developed the condition a year or so, and that he had probably been like that for at least 5 or 6 years.

"They accused me of getting involved in something that was nothing to do with me. They told me I wasn't a friend or relative, so why did I care?"

Doctors at the hospital argued that because Aleksandar was suffering from a form of cancer he was not an emergency case.

Following the incident social workers had the 74-year-old admitted to a specialist clinic in Belgrade where he is now being treated.

Alexsandar is homeless and was unable to seek help when the disease first developed.

Despite having no lips or mouth he is able to communicate by writing and nodding.

He became homeless after losing his job and flat.