Police officers bandage a man injured by leg vessel rupture in Harbin, China's Heilongjiang Province. Photo: Screenshot from media report

Patrolling officers on Central Street in Harbin, capital of Northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, recently assisted a man with a ruptured varicose vein in his leg and profuse bleeding during chilly winter night, with the incident sparking discussion among netizens.

Patrolling officers received a plea for help from a woman who reported that her boyfriend was suffering from a ruptured varicose vein in his leg with heavy bleeding, domestic media outlet The Paper reported on Tuesday. 

After the distress call, two officers immediately followed the woman to the scene, where they found a man slumped pale-faced on a bench, clutching his lower leg tightly. 

Blood had soaked through his pant leg and left stains on the ground, the report said.

According to the report, the man said that this was not the first time he had experienced such an incident.

The woman who reported the incident made the call at around 7 pm, considering the low nighttime temperatures and the risk of shock from continuous bleeding, the officers worked together to move the injured man to a nearby hotel. 

Officers from a nearby police station fetched a first-aid kit for emergency treatment, and the instant they cut open his trousers, blood spurted forth, the report said.

One officer applied pressure with gauze and tightened a tourniquet to stop the bleeding, while reminding him earnestly: "In Northeast China, you must wear thermal pants when going out."

According to weather data from China Weather Network on Wednesday, nighttime temperatures in Harbin from December 16-22 have averaged around -15 to -20 C.

The incident of the man suffering a ruptured blood vessel in Harbin has also sparked discussions among netizens. 

One netizen said in the comment section of the relevant video posted by domestic media outlet Sichuan Daily that "I only knew water pipes could burst in winter, but this was the first time I had heard of a blood vessel bursting due to the cold.'' 

Another netizen questioned whether the rupture was truly caused by the cold, suggesting it might instead be related to an underlying health condition.

After emergency bandaging, the police officers assisted medical staff lifting the injured man onto a stretcher and transferring him to the ambulance. They also coordinated priority access for medical treatment, and escorted him to the hospital, The Paper reported.

The injured man has been out of danger after timely medical care and is in recovery, according to the report.


Global Times