The dolphins had fallen sick after eating plastic surrounding the edge of their pool at an aquarium in Fushun, Liaoning Province.

Attempts to remove the plastic using surgical instruments had failed, the China Daily newspaper reported.

In a last ditch attempt to save the dolphins, vets decided to ask for help from Bao Xishun, 54, who measures 7ft 9ins (2.36-metres). The herdsman from Inner Mongolia was confirmed as the world's tallest man by the Guinness World Records in 2005.

The official Xinhua news agency said Mr Bao, who has arms that measure 41.7ins (1.06 metres), was able to reach deep inside the dolphins to pull out the plastic.

Photographs taken yesterday showed the jaws of one of the dolphins being held back by towels to prevent Mr Bao from being bitten.

"Some very small plastic pieces are still left in the dolphins' stomachs," said Zhu Xiaoling, a local doctor. "However the dolphins will be able to digest these and are expected to recover soon."

Chen Lujun, the manager of the Royal Jidi Ocean World aquarium, told said that the shape of the dolphins' stomachs made it difficult to insert an instrument without hurting the animals. People with shorter arms could not reach the plastic, he said.

"When we failed to get the objects out we sought the help of Bao Xishun from Inner Mongolia and he did it successfully yesterday," Mr Chen said. "The two dolphins are in very good condition now."

Guinness World Records say that Mr Bao was of normal height until 16 but then put on a spurt that doctors were unable to explain, reaching his full height in seven years.

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