Woman survives 44 years with thermometer in lung

A woman in China has been living with a thermometer inside her lung for 44 years.

The patient – who has only been identified as Liu – accidentally consumed the two-inch-long item when she was 12 years old, but it wasn't removed as her family could not afford the medical care.

Doctors in the country's Hunan province recently discovered the medical device and are planning to remove it.

They are concerned that if the thermometer breaks the mercury inside it could cause serious damage to Liu's body.