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Stabbed worker still struggling to recover

(China Daily)
Updated: 2010-12-30 07:49

Gao Zhiqiang was stabbed after arguing with his boss over unpaid wages. He has already lost a kidney and is now waiting for a second operation. Zhang Tao / China Daily

Editor's note: In January, migrant worker Gao Zhiqiang, 28, was stabbed after arguing with his boss about 70 yuan in unpaid wages. To save his life, doctors had to remove one of his kidneys.

Gao Zhiqiang has slowly recovered since he was discharged from a Beijing hospital - his financial situation has not.

Despite money from well-wishers and authorities in his hometown of Hengshui in Hebei province, his family are still struggling to pay back the 40,000-yuan ($6,000) they borrowed to pay his medical bills.

China Daily reader Brian Flannigan donated 10,000 yuan after seeing the report about Gao's attack, while Hengshui gave 6,000 yuan. However, the total sum is not enough to clear the family's debts.

Twelve months into his recovery, Gao still rarely goes outside.

Flannigan, 62, who is British and works at Huntsman Textiles in Guangdong province, contacted China Daily shortly after its reporters wrote about Gao's attack and the need to protect migrant workers' rights.

"My actions are 100 percent humanitarian," he said. "The story touched my heart and I felt I had to do something. I just wanted to help."

Gao said he was surprised and delighted by Flannigan's kind donation, and gave his "most sincere thanks". The two men are yet to meet in person.

Pan Junwei, the man convicted of stabbing Gao, was ordered to pay 100,000 yuan in compensation to his victim by the Intermediate People's Court of Beijing's Shijingshan district. He refused, however, telling judges he would rather go to prison.

Gao must wait another four months for judicial aid if Pan does not pay up.

The migrant worker's 63-year-old mother, meanwhile, has been forced out of retirement to help increase the family's income. This year, she farmed 2 mu (0.13 hectares) of cotton to sell for 1,000 yuan, as well as collected trash to exchange for money.

Gao's youngest daughter, who is 5, also had to drop out of kindergarten, as the family could not afford the annual 240-yuan fee.

Things have become so bad that Gao's wife, Wang Hongran, moved back to her father's house on Dec 22 and is refusing to return home.

"I should have started work to make money but I need a second operation, which will cost another 10,000 yuan," said Gao. "I don't know how to get the money."

Hu Yongqi

To read the original story, visit: www.chinadaily.com.cn/cndy/2010-01/20/content_9345823.htm