The world’s tallest man has saved the lives of two dolphins by delving into their stomachs to remove chunks of plastic that they had accidentally swallowed at their aquarium in northeastern China.

Bao Xishun, 54, a shy herdsman from Inner Mongolia, was called to the rescue after staff at the Royal Jidi Ocean World in the northeastern Liaoning province had failed to remove the shreds of plastic using surgical instruments.

The stomachs of the two ailing dolphins contracted each time the veterinary surgeons tried to remove the plastic, making it impossible for them to proceed.

Chen Lujin, manager of the aquarium, 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. The two dolphins are in very good condition now.”

Mr Bao, who at 7ft 9in is the world’s tallest man according to the 2005 Guinness World Records, stretched his bare arm into the mouth of each sick dolphin.

Aquarium staff held down the dolphins and tied their jaws open with towels to prevent them from biting Mr Bao’s arm, which measures 41½in (106cm).

The shape of the dolphins’ stomachs had made it almost impossible to push an instrument deep into their gullets without causing injury, and people with shorter arms had been unable to reach the shards of plastic.

But Mr Bao was able to grasp and pull out the brown plastic pads, which are used to prevent people from skidding on the side of the pool.

It is not known how the pieces of plastic fell into the water, only to be gobbled up by the dolphins two weeks ago. The creatures soon fell ill and their condition had been deteriorating daily.

The veterinary staff declared them to be out of danger after Mr Bao’s non-surgical intervention. One of the vets said: “Some very small plastic pieces are still in the dolphins’ stomachs. However, the dolphins will be able to digest these and are expected to recover soon.”

Mr Bao has shied away from publicity ever since he had a growth spurt at the age of 16. Doctors are mystified by his sudden surge in height, saying that it is not because of a medical condition.

His world record height was only confirmed by Guinness World Records last year. He had grown to 6ft 10in by the time he was 20 but suffered from rheumatism that he had developed when he was young, — possibly after sleeping outside on the grasslands with his legs uncovered. He spent three years in the army playing for a military basketball team but had to return home after his legs began to weaken.

After he failed to find a wife he became more withdrawn. After the death of his mother, when he was 40, Mr Bao shut himself off from the world.

It was only in 2004 that his life was transformed when a restaurant owner in the nearby town of Chifeng recruited him to work for ten days to meet and greet diners. Mr Bao seemed to thrive on his new popularity.

The local people encouraged him to visit a nearby hospital where doctors reassured him that he was not suffering from gigantism. He said at the time: “I’m a normal person, growing naturally. I want to live a normal life like my father, who is 94.”

He spends his mornings walking on the grasslands and his afternoons playing cards with neighbours. And, this summer, he found a girlfriend whom he hopes to marry.

Times Recommends

• Should Knox’s trial even have reached the courtroom?
• 'Was it real?' The US bailout nightmare
• Iranian opposition plays the long game