A Russian taxi driver survived the attack of his customer who tried to slit his throat, thanks to his double chin.

The unusual incident took place in the city of Barnaul in the Russian federal subject of Altai Krai on the night of 20th April.

The taxi driver Mikhail Tolstykh, 39, as usual, gave a lift to the passengers he picked up on the side of the road. Two unidentified passengers were cheerful and usual. They talked with the driver the whole trip, so nothing boded trouble.

However, according to the report of local news outlet Life, towards the end of the trip, a quarrel broke out between Mikhail and the passengers when they did not want to pay for the trip. One of them took out a knife and attacked Mikhail, trying to cut his throat.

Thanks to his double chin, Mikhail was not fatally injured. As soon as the passengers realised that the alleged murder had failed, they immediately fled.

Mikhail recorded a video from the car while the police were examining the scene, and from the ambulance, after the wound was treated. In the video, he turned to his colleagues and said: “You see what happened? My throat was cut. I’m not kidding. Please be careful, don’t take anyone into your car if you think they are suspicious.”

News outlet Life reported that Mikhail’s wound was stitched up, and he was already on the mend. He joked about being overweight, saying he would be dead if he were thinner.

The attackers were detained by the police, and now a criminal case will be opened against them for attempted murder.