A 55-year-old delivery agent, 18 hours of gruelling work, passed away while asleep on his bike!
If this does not shock you, then what will? It is also a stark reminder of gig workers’ plight and working conditions and their rights.
The incident happened in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, where a 55-year-old Chinese delivery agent passed away while falling asleep on his bike after an exhausting 18-hour shift.
According to reports, the man was the sole breadwinner of his family. As per his fellow riders, there were times when he used to sleep just three hours before starting work.
His colleagues also mentioned to media reports that a few weeks before this incident, the delivery worker, Yuan, had suffered a leg fracture and rested only for almost 10 days before returning to work.
What Happened?
The incident surfaced on social media on September 6. As per the video, the man known as Yuan died while resting on his electric bike after fulfilling multiple orders, said the report.
The report further quotes a witness that Yuan had been at his post from about 9pm on September 5 until he was discovered at 1am the following morning by another delivery driver. An insider, known as Yang Yang, shared with Zonglan News that Yuan had earned a reputation for his relentless work ethic, which earned him the nickname “Order King”.
Statement from Xianlin Sub-district Office in Yuhang district:
The organisation confirmed that the delivery driver “collapsed and died despite emergency treatment”. They also issued a statement stating:
“The food delivery platform, the insurance company, and the family have reached an agreement. Follow-up arrangements are being carried out in an orderly manner,” according to the announcement.
