Explaining the PK challenge that took a Chinese influencer's life
In a devastating turn of events, a Chinese social media influencer met a tragic fate after undertaking a deadly challenge known as the PK (player knock-out) challenge. It involved live-streaming himself consuming multiple bottles of liquor on Douyin, a sister app of TikTok in China. Sadly, the influencer's life was tragically cut short after the risky act. What is this challenge? Let us explore.
Influencer dies after drinking several bottles of baijiu
Tragedy struck when Sanqiange, also known as Wang in real life, engaged in an online challenge. On May 16, he participated in the challenge against another influencer, consuming a minimum of four bottles of baijiu, a strong Chinese alcoholic beverage. It was being live-streamed on his Douyin channel. Almost 12 hours later, Wang lost his life.
What do people do in the PK challenge?
Streamers opt to engage in battles with either their followers or random strangers. After both streamers have agreed to the battle, their streams are merged, allowing both audiences to view both contents simultaneously. Each streamer brings their own audience, and various competitions like singing, dance-offs, impressions, or push-ups determine the winner. Finally, the streamers mutually decide on a lighthearted punishment for the loser.
What kind of punishments does the PK challenge involve?
The PK challenge between influencers helps the winner earn rewards and gifts from their viewers. The loser of the challenge receives a silly punishment - like hopping on one leg or getting their face painted. In Wang's case, the punishment was that he had to consume baijiu, a strong Chinese alcoholic drink. Tragically, this punishment had severe consequences, ultimately leading to his untimely demise.
How many bottles of baijiu did he drink?
"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," Wang's friend Zhao was quoted as saying by China-based Shangyou News. As per the viewers, he drank at least seven bottles of baijiu spirits, China-based Shangyou News reported.
How potent and lethal is baijiu?
It is important to note that a regular bottle of baijiu typically contains alcohol content ranging from 30-60%. Consuming this strong liquor directly, without dilution, can lead to severe alcohol poisoning, which poses a significant risk to life. The exceptionally high alcohol concentration renders it extremely lethal, underscoring the grave hazards linked to consuming baijiu in its pure form.
When his family found him, he was already gone
"The PK games ended at around 1 am and by 1 pm when his family found him, he was already gone," Wang's friend Zhao told Shangyou News. As per Zhao, Wang was known for being a sincere and honest individual. Before this incident, Wang had recorded himself participating in similar challenges that involved drinking alcohol and shared those videos on Douyin.
The unhealthy quest for online fame and viewership
Livestreamers often go to great lengths to capture viewers' attention. Just recently, another content creator took it to the next level by pretending to be trapped on a rooftop, recording the whole ordeal. The situation escalated when firefighters were called in for a dramatic rescue. These eye-catching acts showcase the lengths people go to attract attention in their quest for fame on social media.
