Chinese vlogger, 35, dies during live-stream after eating poisonous centipedes and geckos alive for sick challenge
A CHINESE vlogger died during a sick live-stream showing him eating poisonous bugs and geckos alive, according to local media.
Named only by his surname Sun, the 35-year-old's body was reportedly found by his horrified girlfriend at his flat in the eastern city of Hefei.
He was a popular figure on DouYu - a Chinese state-approved equivalent of YouTube, which is banned by communist party mandarins.
According to Xinan Evening News, Sun had filmed himself guzzling alcohol and eating animals as part of a stomach-churning challenge.
Sun's challenge involved him spinning a wheel marked with items - and he'd have to consume whatever it landed on.
Among the creatures he ate were poisonous centipedes, geckos and mealworms, reports.
DOWNED VINEGAR AND BOOZE
He also downed vinegar, beer and a local liquor called baijiu in the warped video filmed for his 15,000 followers last Thursday.
Sun collapsed while the stream was still being broadcast - and cops later discovered his camera was still running when his body was found.
A formal cause of death is yet to be established but authorities have ruled out foul play.
Sun's videos have since been removed from the DouYu site.
BIZARRE FAD
Live-streaming has become hugely popular in China - where there are as many as 435million users, according to a report by China National Radio.
Some streamers have become millionaires off the back of their online fame - simply from filming themselves going about their days or singing, dancing and eating.
But the drive to set themselves apart from the crowd has encouraged some vloggers to attempt dangerous - and sometimes fatal - stunts.
DANGEROUS STUNTS
In November 2017, 26-year-old internet star Wu Yongning fell to his death from the top of a 62-storey skyscraper while filming a video.
In May, a woman was injured after filming herself trying to eat a live octopus that stuck to her face.
MOST READ IN WORLD NEWS
She was seen screaming in pain as she peeled the animal's tentacles off her skin.
There are about 100 live-streaming platforms in China - with authorities keen to tighten control over their content.
In May 2016, the Chinese government banned the "seductive" eating of bananas on camera in a clampdown on "inappropriate and erotic" content.
We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at [email protected] or call 0207 782 4368. You can WhatsApp us on 07810 791 502. We pay for videos too. Click here to upload yours.