A Chinese policewoman fought off a machete-wielding thug with her bare hands, despite sustaining several wounds in the process. The unarmed 22-year-old, Cao Yu, held off the man in a terrifying five-minute struggle in a public square in Guizhou province in southwestern China earlier this month. The man in his twenties, who was holding two knives, stabbed her in the shoulder after she confronted him while on patrol, reported the People's Daily Online. Scroll down for video . Chinese social media users praised 'tough girl' Cao Yu for her incredible bravery . The 22-year-old confronted the man, who was waving around a machete in a public square in south west China . She continued to grapple with him as he wielded the 60 centimetre-long machete, sustaining further wounds to both hands, before her colleagues turned up to bring the man under control. The young policewoman, who was found 'bleeding all over', is now recovering in hospital after the horrific incident. Ms Cao said: 'I couldn't just let the man hurt innocent people.' The 60 centimetre-long knife that caused terrible cuts on the unarmed 22-year-old policewoman. The thug also held another small knife . She added in an interview with a local television station: 'I was trying to take over the machete and stall him until another officer came to help me. 'There were a lot of tourists walking around the square, and I needed to make sure that they were safe.' The man is thought to have robbed a passer-by when Ms Cao saw him. Bloodied: The wounds on Cao Yu’s shoulder and right hand after she was struck with the machete . Mr Cao is getting medical treatment in the local hospital after fighting off the robber . Jiao Chun, one of the policemen who arrived on the scene, said: 'Our colleagues asked him to drop his machete but he didn't. He kept saying that he wanted to rob someone for more money.' Chinese social media users have praised Ms Cao's extraordinary bravery after CCTV footage of the whole incident was released this week. One user posted on Weibo, the Chinese equivalent of Twitter: 'She is a REAL tough girl! Those who say they are so tough every single day are not tough at all!' Another asked why an armed police officer was not sent immediately to deal with the incident: 'Where are the qualified policemen? Are we too shorthanded to send an armed and well-trained policeman to fight the bad guy?'
22-year-old Cao Yu was on patrol when she confronted the man .
Robber wounded her five times as she awaited reinforcements .
Colleagues say they found her 'bleeding all over' when they arrived .
The policewoman has been praised on Chinese social media for her incredible bravery .