Woman Frightens Rapist By Coughing & Saying She Was From Wuhan.

A woman scared off a would-be rapist by coughing and saying that she had just returned from the epicenter of the deadly Coronavirus outbreak, Wuhan.

On Friday night, a woman known as Li, who was alone at her home in Pingba, Jingshan, suffered a break-in where the 25-year-old suspect identified by police as Xiao fled in a panic after Li pretended to cough and said “I just returned from Wuhan and have been infected, therefore I am home alone in self-quarantine.”

Li, despite warding off the potential rape by her quick thinking, the suspect, Xiao, still made off with the equivalent of 3,080 yuan–approximately $440 USD, according to The Daily Mail.

During the incident, Li tried to cough at Xiao, while Xiao was squeezing her neck and covering her mouth.

After being frightened by Li’s coughing and claims, Xiao escaped from his victim’s home, which is roughly a three-hour drive from Wuhan.

Pingba resident, Xiao, had walked out on his family penniless the same night, which may have compelled him to commit the robbery and botched attempted rape.