Seven-day session kills Chinese gamer

A Chinese man who spent "almost all" of the seven-day Lunar New Year holiday glued to a computer game finally dropped dead at the end of the marathon session, Reuters reports.

The unnamed 26-year-old, who weighed in at a fighting 150kg (330lb), collapsed on Saturday in Jinzhou, Liaoning province, following the week-long gaming bout.

Local teacher Xu Yan told China Daily that the "dull life" during the New Year celebrations "prompted many people to turn to computer games for entertainment". He explained: "There are only two options. TV or computer. What else can I do in the holiday as all markets, KTV and cafeterias are shut down?" ®