A woman miraculously survived a brutal knife attack by a stranger after her breast implants shielded her from a potentially fatal wound.
The shocking attack in southeastern China has triggered widespread concern over public safety.
The incident happened on May 22 at The MixC Shopping Mall in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, when the 30-year-old victim, surnamed Ma, was ambushed while getting into her car.
Ma said the assailant forced his way into the front seat and threatened her with a knife. Despite her cries for help, no one responded.
The man demanded that Ma pay for the parking before forcing her to drive out of the shopping centre and take him to a neighbouring county, Tongxiang.
He continued to threaten Ma and demanded she borrow money from friends after discovering how low her bank balance was.
When the man was briefly distracted, Ma managed to send a message to her boyfriend.
He tracked her phone location on his computer and contacted the police.
However, when officers from the Chongfu police station in Tongxiang arrived at the scene, the attacker suddenly stabbed Ma 22 times in the chest before turning the knife on himself.
Despite emergency treatment, he died, but Ma miraculously survived.
Doctors said that her breast implants had blocked a potentially fatal injury, with only one wound reaching her lung.
“We counted over 20 stab wounds. Fortunately, I had undergone breast augmentation surgery in the past, and the implant blocked what could have been a fatal blow. Only one stab wound reached my lung,” said Ma.
Despite being discharged from hospital, Ma expressed frustration that the authorities closed the case following the death of her attacker, saying she feels helpless because the matter has been “left unresolved”.
“It was probably the second day in the intensive care unit. I still could not speak at that time. My mum kept crying. Since we are from the northeast and it is quite far away, it was difficult for my parents to come.
“I have lived in Hangzhou for a long time and have been to MixC mall many times. I always felt very safe there and never sensed any danger,” Ma told Lichi News.
“It just feels like I was unlucky to have encountered the suspect. Now that he is dead and the case is closed, there are many things that cannot be undone,” she added.
The case has sparked outrage online.
One online observer said: “Who would have thought breast implants could have this kind of benefit! The plastic surgery clinic deserves a banner of gratitude.”
“The fact that the implants accidentally saved her life is so dramatic. It is like something out of a novel. Security loopholes in public places must be taken seriously. People should not have to live in fear every time they go out!”
