A Chinese vlogger has died as a result of swallowing a number of centipedes and geckos on camera as part of a drinking game.

The 35-year-old blogger, who goes by the surname Sun, was found dead in his apartment in the city of Hefei, in the Aunhui province of China, on Saturday, July 20, after his girlfriend went to check in on him.

Sun was a popular content creator on the Chinese live-streaming platform DuYuo, boasting over 15,000 followers. He had been filming himself playing a drinking game, according to Xinan Evening News.

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The game consisted of Sun spinning a wheel on camera, which was marked with various unpleasant items. Depending on what the spinner landed on, Sun would be forced to ingest either a shot or various creepy-crawlies, including centipedes, geckos, mealworms, vinegar and raw eggs.

Sun's last live-streaming session was on Thursday, at 7.53 pm. When police finally arrived, the camera was still rolling, and Sun had passed away, with the food items used in his streaming sessions still on the desk in his room. Authorities have ruled out foul play, but are investigating the cause of death. His videos have since been removed from the platform.

This isn't the first time that a man has died after eating geckos. Earlier this month, an Australian man named David Dowell perished after he swallowed one of the small lizards as part of a bet during a Christmas party in December of 2018.

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Dowell was rushed to hospital after experiencing excruciating pains the next day, as well as diarrhoea, stomach cramps and a high fever. He was initially diagnosed with gastroenteritis, but doctors later determined that he had contracted the salmonella virus. 

David's sister Hannah has contested that the dare was the cause of death, telling The Brisbane Times: "It was a dare, so he might have intended to eat it and then thrown it away. At the end of the day, we don't know whether he actually ate the gecko. David never mentioned it."

Filipino food vlogger Emma Amit has died after consuming a poisonous crab in a video shared on social media. She was 51.

Amit passed away on Feb. 6, two days after filming herself eating the toxic Zosimus aeneus crab, locally known as the “Devil Crab.” The footage was posted to her social media account on Feb. 4 and showed her preparing and eating the seafood near her seaside home in Puerto Princesa, Palawan.

According to Barangay Chief Laddy Gemang, Amit lost consciousness shortly after consuming the crab and was rushed to the hospital, where she was pronounced dead two days later. A friend who also ate the crabs died as well.

What happened in the viral video

In the clip shared online, Amit is seen gathering poisonous crabs along with snails and shellfish close to her home by the sea. She later filmed herself cooking the crab in a pot before eating it on camera.

Gemang told ABS-CBN that the content creator became unconscious soon after eating the crab. She was taken to a hospital for treatment but did not survive. Authorities later visited her home to investigate and found seven crab shells at the residence, according to ABS-CBN.

Amit frequently posted videos of fishing trips with her husband in their hometown and showed herself preparing meals for their children after returning from hunting excursions.

Officials warn residents about deadly crab

Following Amit’s death, Gemang urged residents in the area to avoid consuming the species.

“Be careful not to eat this devil crab because it is deadly," he said, per ABS-CBN. "It is very dangerous to eat this type of crab because it can kill you in a matter of hours.”

The Zosimus aeneus crab contains a mix of toxins that can be lethal when ingested. It is considered the most poisonous crab in the Philippines, with 50% of cases proving fatal. According to iNaturalist, the species is found across the Indo-Pacific region.

Investigation and official response

Local officials examined Amit’s residence as part of their inquiry into the incident. The discovery of multiple crab shells at the home was confirmed by ABS-CBN.

Featured image credit: Emma Amit Facebook

A social media influencer in China has died after taking part in an online challenge that saw him chug multiple bottles of alcohol.

Online challenges can often prove to be dangerous - and sometimes even fatal - and Sanqiange Wang, who goes by the name Brother Three Thousand fell victim to an online trend.

As first reported by the Chinese outlet Shangyou News, the social media influencer had previously been banned from Douyin (China's version of TikTok) for being drunk on a live stream.

The story has since been picked up by CNN, who reported that the 34-year-old man was drinking several bottles of alcohol on a live stream.

Sanqiange was reportedly drinking Baijiu, which is a Chinese spirit that has an alcohol content of between 30 percent and 60 percent.

He took part in the challenge on May 16, in what is described as a "PK challenge" where influencers battle it out to win prizes via varying competitions.

The 34-year-old lost in this instance, and his punishment was to drink the bottles of alcohol which ultimately led to his tragic death.

A friend of the influencer, who goes by the name Zhao, told Shangyou News: "I don’t know how much he had consumed before I tuned in. But in the latter part of the video, I saw him finish three bottles before starting on a fourth."

The game allegedly started at around 01:00 AM and 12 hours later, Sanqiange was found deceased by a family member.

The influencer reportedly had a liking for online challenges and would often post videos of himself taking part and drinking excessive amounts of alcohol.

Videos of his final challenge have since been removed from all platforms after it went viral on Chinese social media.

Sanqiange's funeral took place on Saturday, and his death sparked a stern warning for all those taking part in online drinking challenges.

According to the BBC, around one billion internet users are active on video platforms such as TikTok and Douyin, and the industry is worth around $22 billion.

This isn't the first instance of a tragedy occurring on a live stream. In 2021 Yu Hailong, who was popular on the app for eating excessive amounts of food, died after "long hours of high-intensity work," according to his agent.

Platforms such as TikTok and Douyin have come under scrutiny. Credit: cottonbro studio / Pexels

In 2018 a live streamer known as Dafei was found dead after one of his streams involved him drinking excessive amounts of alcohol and cooking oil.

The video platforms have come under scrutiny and are being urged to implement more measures on influencers as some conduct "livestream behaviors that go off the tracks".

Our thoughts are with Sanqiange's family and friends at this time.

Featured image credit: cottonbro studio / Pexels

A 22-year-old social media influencer was brutally killed after being stabbed multiple times while livestreaming.A 22-year-old social media influencer was brutally killed in Japan. Credit: Philippe TURPIN / GettyAiri Sato, a popular online personality, was broadcasting on the app WhoWatch while walking alone near JR Takadanobaba Station in Shinjuku Ward around 9:50AM when she was ambushed, Kyodo News reported.As the attack unfolded, horrified bystanders heard Sato screaming for help. Viewers of her livestream also reacted in real time, with her feed suddenly cutting to black as sirens blared in the background. Concerned followers flooded the chat with frantic messages, asking, “Where did she go?” and “Someone help,” per The New York Times.Police in Tokyo have arrested a 42-year-old man named Kenichi Takano in connection with the fatal attack on Sato.Local reports suggest that Takano was able to track the influencer's location by analyzing the background of her livestream. Jiji Press reported that he had learned the day before that she would be in Tokyo, seemingly using that knowledge to confront her.Shocking images of Sato, who had more than 2,600 followers, lying motionless on the ground after the attack quickly spread online.When authorities arrived, they found the 22-year-old with multiple stab wounds to her face, neck, chest, and abdomen. She was rushed to the hospital but was later pronounced dead.Police arrested Kenichi Takano at the scene. He was allegedly found standing next to the late influencer's body. Officers discovered two knives in his possession - a bloodied survival knife and another tucked inside his backpack.Witnesses reported that Takano not only stabbed Sato but also struck her as she lay on the ground. Disturbingly, he appeared to take photos or record video of her after the attack.Although he admitted to killing Sato, Takano insisted he didn’t mean to take her life. He was initially charged with attempted murder, though local outlets reported that authorities plan to upgrade the charge to murder.Investigators believe the attack was premeditated rather than random. Reportedly, Takano has been following Sato since 2021 and started financially supporting her in 2022. He allegedly told police he had lent her around $13,500, which she never repaid.Local reports also suggest there had been prior tensions between the two. Takano and Sato had reportedly consulted with police outside Tokyo at some point, though the details of those interactions remain unclear.While Japan is known for its low crime rate, Sato’s killing is eerily similar to a previous case in which a 33-year-old female influencer was fatally stabbed by her 26-year-old ex-boyfriend. That attacker was sentenced to 17 years in prison.Featured image credit: Takashi Aoyama / Getty

Efecan Kultur, a well-known Turkish TikTok personality famous for his mukbang videos, has died at the age of 24 due to complications from obesity.The popular food influencer has sadly died. Credit:TikTok/ @efecankulturThe content creator, who gained a following of 155,000 fans on the social media platform by broadcasting his extreme eating habits, passed away on March 7 after spending months hospitalized with serious health issues, the Daily Mail reports.From Viral Fame to Health StrugglesKultur rose to prominence in Turkey as a mukbang streamer, a content genre that originated in South Korea and has since become a global phenomenon.Mukbang involves individuals consuming large quantities of food while interacting with viewers in real time.His videos amassed millions of views, but his extreme eating habits eventually took a severe toll on his health.Kultur passed away on March 7 at the age of 24. Credit: TikTok/ @efecankulturBy December 2024, Kultur had become bedridden due to obesity-related complications.He was suffering from severe breathing difficulties, excessive bruising, and mobility issues, rendering him unable to stand. Even after being discharged from the hospital to continue his treatment at home, his condition remained critical. His weight reportedly became so debilitating that he was unable to visit his mother’s grave after she passed away last year.Final Months Documented on Social MediaKultur’s social media presence shifted drastically in his final months.His last mukbang video, posted on TikTok in October 2024, showed him eating a plate of canned grape leaves while announcing that he had started a diet and was reducing his salt intake. After that, his posts became less frequent, with his final YouTube upload appearing eight months before his passing.In his last TikTok post before his death was announced, Kultur shared a photo of himself with caretakers, including his late mother, captioned “Family worship.”Popular Turkish streamer Testo Taylan visited Kultur just a month before his death. In a lengthy interview, Kultur remained lying in bed. He openly discussed his health struggles during the conversation.A Growing Concern Over Mukbang CultureKultur is not the first mukbang content creator to suffer severe health consequences due to excessive eating.The trend, which initially gained popularity as a form of entertainment and social engagement, has become increasingly extreme, with some influencers consuming dangerously large portions of food for views.Last year, Chinese live-streamer Pan Xiaoting died from a suspected stomach rupture while attempting a 10-hour binge session. Medical reports revealed her stomach had become deformed and filled with undigested food, possibly leading to a fatal internal rupture.Credit: TikTok/@efecankulturSimilarly, in January 2023, American TikToker Taylor Brice LeJeune, known as Waffler69, passed away at 33 from a suspected heart attack. LeJeune was known for his unconventional food reviews, which included eating expired products and bizarre novelty foods, such as canned cheeseburgers and vintage cereals from the 90s.Another TikToker, Brittany Sauer, died at 28 due to complications from Type 2 diabetes. In her final videos, she expressed regret over her binge-eating habits, stating that she felt she had “ruined her life.”Turkish Government Responds to Online Eating TrendsKultur’s death has prompted concerns in Turkey over the potential dangers of mukbang culture and extreme eating challenges on social media, per The Sun.The Turkish government is reportedly considering new regulations to address online content that could encourage harmful behavior.According to Turkiye Today, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s administration is working on legislation that would restrict social media access for individuals under the age of 16. The proposed measures aim to limit exposure to potentially harmful trends, including excessive eating challenges that may contribute to serious health risks.While Kultur’s death has sparked debates over personal responsibility versus social media influence, it also serves as a stark reminder of the real-life consequences of extreme content creation. As the mukbang trend continues to evolve, so does the growing concern over its impact on public health.Our thoughts go out to Kultur's family, friends, and fans at this time.Featured image credit: TikTok/ @efecankultur