The Australian reports that an 18-year-old man, known only by his surname Chuang, collapsed and died after playing Diablo III for 40 consecutive hours in an internet café in the southern city of Tainan.
Citing Taiwan`s United Daily News, the report says that Chuang booked a private room in the café around midday on July 13 and remained in the room until he was awoken by an attendant on morning of July 15. Chuang, who had been playing non-stop without eating, stood up soon after awaking, took a few paces, then collapsed. Shortly after arriving at a local hospital, he was pronounced dead.
Police, who were investigating the incident and having an autopsy carried out, were reported as speculating that the death was the result of remaning in a sedentary position for long hours at a time, which resulted in cardiovascular problems.
This marks the second videogame-related death in Taiwan this year.
In February, another man in New Taipei was found deceased in his chair after a consecutive 23-hour stint playing videogames. The man was found with his arms still reaching out toward the keyboard. The cause of death was declared a cardiac arrest.
Image: Flickr/hanapbuhay
