Pulitzer Prize-winning photo on HK riots hammers in the hard truth

Beaten to the ground, Yang curled up in pain and fear. He was unable to stand up as the mob continued to pummel him while surrounding photographers kept clicking. Some rioters took the chance to rob Yang of cash, phone and other personal belongings.

A battered Yang was finally knocked out even after trying his best to cover his head with his hands and arms. "I might have died there if I forgot to cover my head," Yang said with a shaky voice months after the brutal attack.

Hong Kong police came to the rescue of the dying man in time. They dispersed the rioters and sent Yang to a hospital. After regaining consciousness, Yang found his fingers almost severed.

"Those merciless rioters wanted to kill me! Fortunately, I'm still alive," Yang said with anger. After receiving treatment in Hong Kong for four days, Young returned to Shenzhen for further rehabilitation.

Yang received around 60 stitches, with scars covering the back of his head. He has lost mobility in the index finger of his left hand and cannot keep the middle finger of his right hand straight.

Though the subject of a Pulitzer-winning picture, Yang finds it hard to cheer up. "The picture taken of me was awarded a top prize, but I've been reduced to being jobless and penniless," he said.

Now it is hard for Yang to continue his work as a phone repairman. He has been out of work for more than six months.

"My hands are unlikely to recover. It's not a simple task for a man like me to find a job," Yang sighed. As his savings ran out, Yang had to rely on his friends for support in a metropolis like Shenzhen.

Yang's mental trauma is even more serious than his physical sufferings. He found himself being mistaken for a gangster due to the scars left by surgery. Nightmares kept haunting him.