Taiwanese actor Steve Ma Ching-tao collapses during live stream
HANGZHOU – Taiwanese actor Steve Ma Ching-tao gave fans a scare after fainting during a live stream in Hangzhou, China, on June 21.
The 63-year-old was dressed in several heavy layers as he reprised his iconic role as protagonist Zhang Wuji from the Taiwanese martial arts drama The Heaven Sword And Dragon Saber (1994).
Halfway through the performance, Ma appeared dazed and unsteady. He reached out to the female host for support but lost his balance and fell backwards.
As staff members rushed to his aid, the host shouted for the broadcast to stop and the live stream was abruptly cut off.
The incident quickly went viral on social media, with many netizens expressing concern for the actor's health.
Ma addressed the situation on June 22, revealing that he had collapsed due to low blood sugar and dehydration.
In a video uploaded to Chinese social media platform Weibo, the China-based star assured fans that he has recovered.
'I apologise for making everyone worry... The weather was too hot and I was a little dazed. I'm fine now,' he said, before reminding people to take precautions against heatstroke.
According to reports, temperatures in Hangzhou ranged between 28 deg C and 35 deg C on the day of the live stream.
Ma had reportedly been performing high-energy routines for several days at Hangzhou theme park Song Dynasty Town, while dressed in thick period clothing in the punishing summer conditions.
Ma is known for playing the leading man in TV adaptations based on late Taiwanese writer Chiung Yao's books, such as Green Green Grass By The River (1992), Plum Blossom Scar (1993) and Between Water And Clouds (1993).
He also starred in Singapore period dramas Legend Of The Eight Immortals (1998 to 1999) and The Legendary Swordsman (2000). THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK
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