Man who had been in coma for over a year woke up when nurses wafted cash under his nose

A Chinese man who had spent more than a year in a coma suddenly woke up when nurses wafted some cash under his nose. One sniff of a 100 Yuan note (£10, $16) was all it took to bring back Shenzhen resident Xiao Li as he lay unconscious in his hospital bed.

“It was extraordinary,” said chief medic Dr. Liu Tang. “I’ve never seen anything like it in 20 years as a doctor.” Li fell into his coma in August 2013 after spending nearly a week at an internet cafe without sleep. He had passed out as he was researching business ideas. For months doctors searched for a way to awaken Li, but to no avail.



It wasn’t until his family revealed what he loved most in the world that they found their key to success. “We had asked his family what really drove him, and they were very clear that it was money,” Tang said. “When we learned about his fondness for money we experimented with notes and change.

“Memories of smell and sound can be very powerful stimulants,” he added. “We found that a crisp, new 100 Yuan note crumpled under his nose worked best.” While Li’s family continues to hope for the best as he continues his therapy in Shenzen, doctors urged them to remain cautious.