Live-streaming platform is ordered to pay £3,400 to family after 'rooftopper' plunged to death from the top of a 62-storey skyscraper while filming a stunt

  • Wu Yongning, 26, fell off the skyscraper in China in 2017 while filming a viral clip
  • Camera captured moment he let go and fell 45ft to his death on a terrace below
  • His mother sued the live-streaming platform for negligence after the incident
  • A Beijing court ruled that the company had 'failed to ensure the safety' of Wu
  • The parent has been awarded 30,000 yuan (£3,400) after her son's tragic death

A court in China has ordered a live-streaming platform to pay 30,000 yuan (£3,400) to a mother whose son fell to his death from the top of a 62-storey skyscraper while filming a video.

Wu Yongning, 26, an internet star known as 'China's first rooftopper,' was doing pull-ups at the top of the Huayuan International Centre in Changsha, the capital of Hunan province, in November 2017 when he lost his grip and fell.

The Beijing Internet Court yesterday found that live broadcast app Huajiao had 'failed to ensure the safety and security' of Wu, Chinese media reported. 

Wu Yongning, 26, an internet star known as 'China's first rooftopper,' was doing pull-ups at the top of the Huayuan International Centre in Changsha, the capital of Hunan province, in November 2017 when he lost his grip and fell

Wu Yongning, 26, an internet star known as 'China's first rooftopper,' was doing pull-ups at the top of the Huayuan International Centre in Changsha, the capital of Hunan province, in November 2017 when he lost his grip and fell

Harrowing footage filmed on November 8 captured the moment he let go of the side of the building, plunging 45ft on to a terrace below where his body was later found by a window cleaner.

The former movie stuntman had one million followers on social media and was known for scaling skyscrapers without any safety equipment in more than 300 videos.  

He had held 217 live-streaming sessions and was paid around 55,000 yuan (£6,200) for making the videos. Viewers paid him with virtual currency if they liked the clips.

Harrowing footage filmed on November 8 captured the moment he let go of the side of the building, plunging 45ft on to a terrace below where his body was later found by a cleaner

Harrowing footage filmed on November 8 captured the moment he let go of the side of the building, plunging 45ft on to a terrace below where his body was later found by a cleaner

Wu fell from a 62-storey building in the Huayuan International Centre complex (above)

Wu fell from a 62-storey building in the Huayuan International Centre complex (above)

Local reports previously said Wu was seeking to make money for his poverty-stricken family and pay for his mother's medical bills. 

Following the tragic incident, Wu's mother sued Huajiao for negligence, saying the company lacked proper regulations to review such highly dangerous videos before allowing users to publish them, according to the Paper. 

The parent, surnamed He, sought a compensation of 60,000 yuan (£6,800) and an apology from the live-streaming company.

The mother accused the firm of failing to warn Wu of the risks of his dangerous stunts and continued to allow the publication of his videos. Huajiao denied responsibility.

The Beijing Internet Court said that network service providers are obliged to provide certain safety guarantees for users, and should implement measures such as reviewing, deleting and blocking content.

The former movie stuntman had one million followers on social media and was known for scaling skyscrapers without any safety equipment in more than 300 videos
He had held 217 live-streaming sessions and was paid around 55,000 yuan (£6,200) for making the videos

The former movie stuntman had one million followers on social media and was known for scaling skyscrapers without any safety equipment in more than 300 videos

Local reports previously said Wu was seeking to make money for his poverty-stricken family and pay for his mother's medical bills

Local reports previously said Wu was seeking to make money for his poverty-stricken family and pay for his mother's medical bills

In addition, Huajiao had profited from Wu's viral videos and their business cooperation had incentivised him to continue filming the stunts. Hence, the court ruled that Huajiao should be partially responsible for the man's death. 

Live-streaming videos have been a dominant trend in China, where many young people have become online celebrities and millionaires by broadcasting their daily lives, including filming themselves singing, dancing and eating. 

Some, like Wu, risk their lives just to get more views.

The number of users on live-streaming platforms in China reached 425 million as of June 2018, according to a report by China National Radio. 

There are about 100 live-streaming platforms in China today as authorities tighten their control on such services. 

Live-streaming videos have been a dominant trend in China, where many young people have become online celebrities and millionaires by broadcasting their daily lives (file photo)

Live-streaming videos have been a dominant trend in China, where many young people have become online celebrities and millionaires by broadcasting their daily lives (file photo)

In May 2016, the Chinese government banned the 'seductive' consumption of bananas during the webcam live-streams in an attempt to clamp down on 'inappropriate and erotic' content online. 

Officials have closed down 73 illegal live streaming platforms in the first half of 2017 and imposed life bans on 1,879 live streamers who severely violated regulations, according to China Daily

Amazon-backed Twitch, which let users watch and broadcast video-game playing, has also been blocked in China in September after it became the third most popular free app in the Chinese iOS store. 

Deloitte estimates that the country's lives-streaming industry made US$4.4 billion (£3.35 billion) in 2018, up 32 per cent from 2017. About one-fifth of full-time hosts make more than 10,000 yuan (£1,129) a month, according to a survey cited by Caixin.

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Live-streaming app to pay family after 'rooftopper' fell to death from 62-storey skyscraper in stunt

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