Shenzhen, a 30-year-old man, found himself in financial distress after losing his job, surviving on cookies and water for 20 days before experiencing symptoms like abdominal cramps, dizziness, and unsteady gait. He was urgently hospitalized and diagnosed with acute kidney failure. The incident sparked heated discussions on the internet.
According to reports from various mainland Chinese media outlets such as the “Southern Metropolis Daily,” on August 20th, “Zhejiang University Hospital” released a case: a 30-year-old man named Mr. Yang (pseudonym) who, after losing his job, faced financial difficulties and was burdened with online loans. For a full 10 days, he solely relied on cookies and other snacks at home to curb hunger. Once the snacks were gone, he resorted to drinking water excessively whenever hungry, continuing this pattern for another 10 days. By the 21st day, he began to experience symptoms such as abdominal cramps, dizziness, overall weakness, unsteady gait, and even fell and couldn’t get up. Mr. Yang called 120 for emergency assistance and was rushed to a local hospital in Shenzhen, where he was diagnosed with acute kidney failure.
Upon learning of their son’s condition, Mr. Yang’s parents brought him back to their hometown in Jiangxi for further treatment. After receiving three sessions of blood dialysis at a local hospital, Mr. Yang suddenly lost his eyesight. His family then took him to Zhejiang University Hospital, where doctors discovered a previously undisclosed illness: Wernicke’s encephalopathy – an acute neurological disorder caused by severe vitamin B1 deficiency.
During his extreme state of hunger, Mr. Yang’s multiple blood dialysis treatments further exacerbated the elimination of Vitamin B1, leading to selective damage to brain regions responsible for eye movement, balance coordination, and cognitive functions, resulting in blurred vision.
The topic “Unemployed man starving for 20 days leading to kidney failure” trended on the top of Weibo’s hot search, sparking significant attention and discussions among netizens.
Weibo user “Crow Worshipper-Q” expressed, feeling uneasy after reading about the incident. The man faced financial pressure after losing his job, enduring 20 days by first eating cookies, then surviving on water alone. Eventually, his body collapsed, diagnosed with acute kidney failure, narrowly escaping blindness. In times of extreme difficulty, seeking help from family, friends, or society is essential. Once a severe illness is endured, the price to be paid will only be heavier.
Weibo user “Xiao Su Does Not Eat Crispy Meat” said, falling into despair after losing his job, barely eating for 20 days before being hospitalized with kidney failure. A survival crisis dragged into a severe illness is a heavy reality that weighs heavily on the heart. During life’s lowest points, one should never tough it out, nor should they gamble with their own life.
Zhejiang netizen “Don’t Make Fun of My Naivety” mentioned, in our village, there was also a man in his thirties who couldn’t find work and died of starvation.
A Tianjin netizen, named “Bingo9860,” commented, according to statistics from the Bureau of Statistics, he probably wouldn’t even be classified as unemployed.
A Guangdong netizen, “BlackNightKnowsMyHeart,” expressed, it’s really tough! I’m also unemployed, as are those around me.
Another Guangdong netizen, “devil-ping-kindness,” sarcastically remarked, prosperity characterizes China, this is also China.
Lastly, a Sichuan netizen, “YiBuYiTouDW,” cynically commented, the Chinese economy is steadily improving amidst struggles.