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.
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.
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.
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