A vlogger tragically passed away after reportedly engaging in a daredevil act of consuming live centipedes and geckos during a stream.
With the popularity of platforms like Twitch, Kick, and YouTube, live-streaming has given rise to some jaw-dropping stunts.
Especially during the Covid-19 lockdowns, screen-based entertainment was at an all-time high.
However, not all streaming stunts end in laughs and likes, as showcased by a heartbreaking incident from 2019.
The unfortunate streamer, a 35-year-old man from east China known only by his surname, Sun, reportedly live-streamed himself consuming a dangerous mix of alcohol, centipedes, geckos, and mealworms.
As reported by Xinan Evening News, Sun was a regular on DouYu, a Chinese streaming platform, where he entertained an audience of 15,000 followers with nightly streams.
In an attempt to increase his viewership, Sun introduced a risky spinning wheel challenge.
The wheel had options ranging from the bizarre to the benign, including centipedes, geckos, mealworms, vinegar, eggs, and beer.
Whatever the wheel decided, Sun consumed live for his audience.
Tragically, just two days after this particular stream, Sun was found unconscious by the police who reported he showed no vital signs, and his live-stream setup was still running.
Investigators found remnants of the challenge’s food items strewn across his desk.
Following the incident, Sun’s videos were promptly taken down by DouYu.
While the specific species of geckos and centipedes Sun consumed was not disclosed, it is generally known that such practices are highly unsafe.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) cautions that reptiles like geckos can carry salmonella, urging people to handle them with care.
The CDC also recommends that reptile owners should wash their hands thoroughly after interaction and keep these pets away from kitchen areas.
“Don’t kiss or snuggle with reptiles and amphibians because this can increase your risk of getting sick,” the CDC advises.
“Persons who think they might have become ill from contact with reptiles should talk to a health care provider.”
Though police did not suspect foul play in Sun’s death, they were still investigating what exactly led to the fatal outcome.
No updates on the matter have been disclosed since then.