In North Charleston, South Carolina, a man faced consequences after attempting to sexually assault a woman. The victim fought back when he broke into her home, trying to force his tongue into her mouth. In self-defense, she bit down hard, severing his tongue.

The 33-year-old victim reported to police that the man had repeatedly knocked on her door before finally entering with a knife. He threatened her and physically assaulted her, demanding she stop resisting. He then attempted to drag her to her bedroom and remove her clothing, but she kicked him in the groin, momentarily incapacitating him.

As he forced his tongue into her mouth, she bit it as hard as she could, causing him to pull away in pain, leaving part of his tongue in her mouth. She escaped to her car, drove to a nearby business, and called the police, having left her phone and tablet behind in her rush to flee.

The assailant fled to a local Waffle House, where his mother called 911, reporting that he needed medical help due to his severed tongue. He was treated at Trident Hospital, and while his tongue was recovered, it is uncertain if it could be reattached. Police also found a knife matching the victim’s description, corroborating her account of the attack.