A 28-year-old man has tragically passed away after doctors made a terrifying discovery — 72 separate holes riddled throughout his lungs. The story, which has gone viral across social media, has left people stunned and heartbroken. What began as a seemingly routine chest discomfort ended in an abrupt and devastating death that has sparked debate over medical urgency and rare respiratory conditions.
The man, identified by local reports as Liu Jian from southern China, had complained of persistent breathing issues and chest pain for several days. According to a report by the Daily Mail, Liu collapsed at home before he could even make it to the hospital. Paramedics rushed him into emergency care, but within hours, he died from acute respiratory failure. What doctors found during the final moments has shocked the public and baffled specialists: 72 air leaks and holes were found in both lungs, a condition rarely seen in such magnitude.
A CT scan image posted on Weibo appears to show extensive cavitation — meaning the lung tissue had eroded in multiple areas, turning vital breathing structures into empty, collapsing pockets. One emergency room doctor was quoted as saying, “I’ve never seen anything like it. It was as though his lungs had been shredded from the inside.” The case has since been shared more than 18 million times on Chinese social media.
His family revealed that Liu had recently quit smoking and was focused on a healthier lifestyle. But they say he had started coughing blood days before his death — something he initially dismissed as minor. In a shocking tweet by BNO News, the timeline of his rapid deterioration was laid out, prompting thousands of online users to urge others not to ignore symptoms that seem small but can hide something fatal.
Doctors who treated Liu now believe he was suffering from a spontaneous bilateral pneumothorax — a rare and sudden lung collapse where air leaks into the chest cavity through ruptured lung sacs. But in Liu’s case, the scale was beyond anything medically typical. A pulmonologist speaking to South China Morning Post noted, “Even one or two holes can be life-threatening. Seventy-two is incomprehensible. It was as if his body was attacking itself.”
Medical authorities are now investigating whether Liu may have suffered from a rare connective tissue disorder, or an autoimmune condition that went undiagnosed. A Reddit discussion thread with thousands of comments features several doctors weighing in, some suggesting conditions like Lymphangioleiomyomatosis or severe tuberculosis, while others speculate it could be the result of long-term environmental damage.
Photos shared by Liu’s cousin on Instagram show him smiling just days before the incident — healthy-looking, vibrant, and surrounded by friends. The caption reads: “You were just starting life. We still can’t understand how this happened. Rest easy, brother.” The post has been flooded with messages of disbelief and support from around the world.
In a YouTube interview, Liu’s mother tearfully described the last call she had with her son. “He said he was okay. He didn’t want me to worry. I had no idea it would be the last time I’d hear his voice.” The video has gone viral with over 3 million views, triggering emotional reactions from viewers across Asia and beyond.
This tragedy has reignited conversations around lung health, especially among younger populations. A growing number of users on TikTok are sharing videos urging their followers to take respiratory symptoms seriously, with the hashtag #LiuJian now trending. One video with over 2 million views warns, “Don’t wait until you can’t breathe. Go. Now.”
Chinese health authorities have released a public statement calling the case a medical emergency anomaly, and an autopsy is underway to determine the exact cause of the massive lung perforation. Until then, Liu’s story remains a chilling reminder that even the healthiest-looking young people are not immune to silent, sudden medical disasters.
