100-yuan note wakes man from vegetative state

A man (in bed) holds up his hands to catch something at a hospital room in Shenzhen, Guangdong province. (Photo: Southern Metropolis Daily)

(ECNS) - A Chinese 100-yuan banknote may have been the cure for a man living in a vegetative state in Shenzhen, a city in southern China's Guangdong province.

The man surnamed Li suffered a cerebral hemorrhage and lapsed into a coma in August 2013 after staying up several nights playing computer games in an Internet bar.

In March 2014, Li showed some slight responses, such as moving his fingers. He could also open his eyes occasionally, but still lacked cognitive function.

The real breakthrough occurred in mid 2014, when a nurse took out a 100-yuan banknote and shook it in front of Li, while someone said "if you catch it, the money is yours."

Li held up his hand and eventually caught the money after several minutes. He had suddenly woken from the vegetative state after more than a year.

There are many reasons for Li's recovery, and the money might have just been a trigger, according to the deputy director of the hospital's neurology department.

Li is now able to walk with assistance, but still struggles to articulate.