A man who had a chopstick lodged in his throat for nearly a decade has finally had it removed after years of avoiding surgery.
The 46-year-old from China, identified as Wang, accidentally swallowed a 12cm metal chopstick while drinking. Instead of seeking immediate treatment, he chose to live with it due to fear of surgery.
He experienced occasional discomfort over the years, but in early 2026 the pain became severe, forcing him to go to the hospital. Doctors were shocked when he revealed the object had been stuck there for eight years.
He underwent a minimally invasive procedure to remove the chopstick, which was successfully extracted without damaging his vocal cords.
Images of the scan quickly went viral online, with many questioning how he managed to live with it for so long.