A man portrayed in Chinese media as a hero for caring for his girlfriend while she was in an eight-month coma has been accused by her of being responsible for her injuries.

Liu Fenghe, 24, from Liaoning province, promised to take care of 20-year-old Lin Yingying after a serious accident left her paralysed in a vegetative state in 2014.

He reportedly spent 200,000 yuan (€27,867) on medical treatment for her and pledged to take care of her for the rest of his life, before her family took her home from hospital last February after they were reportedly unhappy he was visiting her in hospital.

She regained consciousness last May and alleges Mr Fenghe beat her up after she accidentally burnt some bread in the bakery business they ran together.

Ms Yingying claimed her boyfriend had grabbed a heavy rolling pin and hit her on the head with it. She said he had abused her before but she had been too frightened to tell anyone.

Ms Yingying's family have referred the matter to the police.