55-year-old Nguyen Hai Yen of central Nghe An province has lived on his back for almost 30 years. He has managed to master basket weaving and many other tasks despite his disability.

Yen is well known throughout Do Luong district for his resourcefulness with his disability and his impressive weaving skills. Lying on his back, he dexterously weaves baskets with only four malformed fingers and his teeth.

Yen’s wife sells his products, which come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes and are of high quality, at local markets. Many customers initially believe they are made by artisans.

Yen is also skilled in woodworking and can make many things while lying on his back in bed. He even brings his wife’s bike onto his bed and to fix it.

Yen moves his back inch by inch to get down from his bed, dragging his body slowly down a few steps and into his garden. With his head resting on a small chair, he can lie on his back and plant a banana tree.

His neighbors say that he also dries husked rice in the yard and carries piles of rice and straw on his back.

When he was 15, Yen’s leg tendon was pierced by a bamboo thorn. Left untreated, his injury became seriously inflamed and his hands and legs began to wither away. His strength thus comes from his back and four weak fingers. He has to be spoon-fed and must chew for 30 minutes before digesting food.