Zhang Haichao felt he had no other choice but to go under the knife and have open chest surgery to prove he was suffering from deadly black lung disease.

The 28-year-old Henan native believed previous tests that barred him from free treatment were wrong and underwent the risk of surgery for a second diagnosis.

Previously, the government-designated Zhengzhou Occupational Disease Prevention and Treatment Center diagnosed him as suspected black lung disease plus TB, which denied him free treatment and compensation, Orient Today reported.