When a man in China received a blank call from his elderly neighbour, little did he know that it would save a life.

A man, surnamed An, residing in the Nanjing, capital of Jiangsu province, got a blank call from Zhou, his 60-year-old neighbour, and when he called back he could hear nothing but the sound of heavy breathing.

An went round to Zhou's house and knocked on the door, but when he got no response, he called the police, the China Daily reported.

When the door was broken down, they found the elderly man in a coma.

Zhou was immediately given treatment, and doctors say he is now out of danger. (ANI)