Taiwanese actor Steve Ma gave fans a scare after fainting during a livestream in Hangzhou, China, on June 21.
The 63-year-old was dressed in several heavy layers as he reprised his role as Zhang Wuji from the 1994 wuxia drama The Heaven Sword And Dragon Saber.
Halfway through the performance, Ma appeared dazed and unsteady. He reached out to the female host for support but lost his balance and fell backward.
As staff members rushed to his aid, the host shouted for the broadcast to stop, and the livestream was abruptly cut off.
The incident quickly went viral, with many netizens expressing concern for the actor’s health.
Ma addressed the situation the next day, revealing that he had collapsed due to low blood sugar and dehydration.
In a video uploaded on Weibo, the Legend Of The Eight Immortals (1999) 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 the public to take precautions against heatstroke.
According to reports, temperatures in Hangzhou ranged between 28°C and 35°C on the day of the livestream.
It’s also said that Ma had been performing high-energy routines for several consecutive days in Songcheng, all while dressed in thick period clothing under the punishing summer conditions.
