Would-be world's tallest man receives foot surgery

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-04-14 19:33

TIANJIN - A contender for world's tallest man is receiving a foot surgery in a hospital in north China's metropolitan of Tianjin to relieve pains as a result of a muscle tendon injury on his left foot that occurred nearly a decade ago.

The 27-year-old Zhao Liang is 2.46 meters tall -- 10 centimeters taller than Bao Xishun, who is recognized by the Guinness World Records as the world's tallest man. However, Zhao has not been independently measured by the Guinness judges.

Zhao's surgeon, Liu Yuchen with the Tianjin Anjie Hospital, said the Zhao will be able to walk normally two months after the surgery, but advised against participation in basketball exercises.

Zhao received a health checkup in the hospital before the surgery. Doctors measured his height under the media observation.

The doctor Liu said Zhao is in good health. He does not have any health complications related to his height.

The hospital offered the tall man the treatment for free and prepared a special sickbed made of two beds joined together.

Zhao's basketball career in his home province of Henan was cut short by the injury when he was 17.

He was unemployed until 2006, when an art troupe in northeast China's Jilin Province enrolled him for his rare height. He has since learned to perform magic and play the saxophone and cucurbit flute.

His mother said that Zhao has a big appetite. He can eat eight hamburger-sized steamed buns and three dishes a dinner.

Zhao's parents are of normal height. His father is 1.8 meters tall and his mother 1.68 meters. They don't know why their son has grown to such an abnormal height.

"I am so worried about his marriage, job and his health that my hair becomes white," said his mother Wang Keyun.