A mentally ill Chinese man who was kept in an iron cage for 17 years has been freed.
Xiao Guo, 37, was forced to live in the cage by his father Lao Guo after he became increasingly violent and tried to burn down the family home in Hohhot, the capital of Inner Mongolia.
His father took then 20-year-old Xiao to a string of local doctors for treatment for his mental health after he chased a family member with a kitchen knife.
But, the family were soon unable to pay for the expensive treatment and terrified Xiao would commit a crime, resorted to a more creative solution.
He was discovered by a team of local reporters last week, cut out of the cage, and taken to Inner Mongolia Third Hospital for treatment. Doctors have not yet revealed his diagnosis but a fundraising campaign has raised 30,000 Chinese yuan (£3,300) to pay for the treatment.
Lao said: 'Xiao was always a really smart lad, but then the trouble started and we had to lock him up.'
He explained Xiao had become a teacher after graduating from primary school, before his aggressive episodes started. Lao said Xiao's mother had left home when his son was ten.
Lao added Xiao only had occasional violent episodes but said fear he would commit a crime while blinded by rage meant he was kept in the cage for nearly two decades.
