The 23-year-old student, identified by his last name, Zhang, plunged his feet in a bucket of dry ice for more than 10 hours to get them so badly frostbitten that he would need a double amputation. Later it became known that his school friend Liao had encouraged him to commit fraud.
Just days before, Zhang bought several expensive policies for life insurance, travel insurance, and accident insurance, according to prosecutors. However, during the examination, medical staff sensed something was amiss. Zhang's legs were amputated below the calf due to frostbite, but his case was reported to authorities. The investigators immediately noticed that his legs bore no shoe or sock marks, and his injuries appeared symmetrical, which were inconsistent with a naturally occurring frostbite injury.
When police investigated Zhang and Liao, they found the plastic bucket used to freeze Zhang's feet, insurance documents, a white polystyrene box for dry ice, eight mobile phones, and a tablet computer.
Local media reported that Zhang had claimed $7,200 from one insurer, but this money would be seized. Initially, the guys wanted to get $1.3 million. Liao and Zhang were arrested due to attempted fraud.
Photos are from open sources.
