In his late 20s tragically Chinese Teacher Dies of Cardiac Arrest, reportedly due to months of extreme stress and long working hours. The man, identified by his surname Li, worked for an online tutoring company in Wuhan and was responsible for managing up to 400 students.
His untimely death occurred just days before his wedding, highlighting once again the toll of overwork in China’s demanding education sector. Despite local labor laws capping working hours, many companies continue to push employees beyond their limits under intense pressure to meet targets.
A Life Lost to Exhaustion and Pressure
Mr Li’s commitment to his job eventually became his downfall. On April 22, he stayed late at his office to complete pending work ahead of an upcoming holiday. He had been doing overtime for several days, reportedly trying to finish his responsibilities early so he could enjoy a break.
His fiancée grew anxious after he stopped responding to messages and calls and contacted the police. Tragically, it wasn’t until the next morning that a janitor discovered his lifeless body. Doctors later confirmed that he had died of cardiac arrest, likely brought on by exhaustion and stress.
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The incident becomes even more tragic when considering that Mr Li was planning to marry on May 2, less than two weeks after his death. His fiancée was left devastated, mourning not just the loss of a loved one but the future they had planned together. For many, Mr Li’s story has become a symbol of the heavy burden placed on young professionals in China’s cutthroat work environment.
Company Denial and Legal Proceedings
Despite widespread sympathy and outrage, the company Mr Li worked for issued a statement denying that his death was the result of scheduled overtime. According to them, there was no official instruction for Mr Li or his team to work extra hours. However, many former employees dispute this claim.
One ex-staffer said the pressure to perform was so high that people often worked far beyond their scheduled hours, out of fear of losing their jobs. Another employee mentioned that she quit the firm last year after developing anxiety from continuous overtime.
In the wake of Mr Li’s death, the local labor authority confirmed that his family and the company are currently working on paperwork to determine whether the case qualifies as a work-related death. If officially recognized, it could open the door for compensation to his grieving family. Still, many feel that this would be a small consolation given the irreversible loss that has occurred.
The company’s public denial has only added fuel to the fire. Social media users are questioning whether such a statement is an attempt to escape liability. Many are also pointing out that “voluntary overtime” under such intense job pressure is hardly a free choice — it’s a necessity for survival in a hostile job market. The lack of accountability has left people questioning how much longer companies can continue these practices without legal or social repercussions.
Public Outcry and the Culture of Overwork in China
Mr Li’s death triggered a firestorm on Chinese social media. The topic of overwork, or “neijuan” (involution), quickly trended, with related posts garnering over 70 million views. Netizens have condemned the toxic culture that glorifies burnout and devalues personal health and well-being.
Many users argued that no one would willingly subject themselves to such extreme conditions unless they feared job loss or punishment. In many Chinese companies, particularly those in fast-paced tech and education sectors, workers are expected to be constantly available.
Reports suggest that Mr Li’s company enforced strict rules where employees had to notify supervisors even for short breaks like going to the bathroom or having lunch. This micromanagement and lack of autonomy add to the psychological toll that contributes to conditions like anxiety, depression, and — as seen in this case — fatal health issues.
Though Chinese labor law officially limits working hours to eight hours per day and 44 hours per week, with a cap of 36 hours of overtime per month, enforcement is weak. Companies often find ways to bypass these rules through informal expectations or vague job descriptions. This leaves workers vulnerable, with little legal recourse if they suffer health consequences from their jobs.
The death of Mr Li is not an isolated incident. It echoes previous cases where young professionals, often in their 20s or 30s, died suddenly after being pushed to the brink. The infamous “996” work culture — where employees work from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., six days a week — remains widespread, despite growing criticism. Mr Li’s story adds another painful chapter to the ongoing crisis of labor rights and workplace stress in China.