TAIWANESE-CANADIAN model and actor Godfrey Gao has died after collapsing on the set of a variety show in China.
The 35-year-old came to prominence in 2013 in Hollywood film The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones and went on to star in a number of Chinese films, including The Jade Pendant and Shanghai Fortress.
Gao fell and lost consciousness while taking part in a running event on Chinese reality series Chase Me, which sees teams of celebrity guests competing to win races.
He is reported to have been rushed to hospital, where a sudden cardiac arrest was pronounced, but to have died after three hours.
The show was filming in city of Ningbo in eastern China.
Chinese media outlets said he collapsed at around 2am local time on Wednesday (6pm GMT on Tuesday).
Gao's management agency, JetStar entertainment, confirmed his death via a statement on social media site Weibo.
"In the early hours of Nov. 27, our beloved Godfrey collapsed while filming on set," it read.
"Following three hours of rescue efforts, he unfortunately left us.
"We are very shocked and saddened and even until now find it impossible to accept."
'WONDERFUL AND MODEST'
Other celebrities on the set of Chase Me at the time of Gao's collapse included Hong Kong actor William Chan and boy band Fahrenheit member William Chan.
Photographs online showed Chan at the scene with his hands clasped together as paramedics tend to someone on the floor.
A statement released by Chase Me said: "Guest participant Godfrey suddenly collapsed to the ground while running.
"The programme's on-site paramedics began lifesaving measures immediately and urgently transported him to the hospital.
"After two hours of all-out efforts to save him, the hospital [said] he had suffered a sudden cardiac death."
In 2011, Gao became the first Asian male model to feature in an ad campaign by luxury fashion brand Louis Vuitton.
His death has prompted an outpouring of grief online.
Taiwanese singer Christine Fan posted a a plain black background on Instragram and wrote: "My heart is broken."
Former Taiwanese basketball player James Mao, at whose wedding this Friday Gao had been set to be a groomsmen, posted a heartbreak emoji on a black background to Instragram.
Australian actor Remy Hii, who this year starred in Marvel film Spider-Man: Far From Home, wrote on twitter: "I am beyond devastated to hear about the death of Godfrey Gao.
"This is a loss to us as a community as asian artists and it’s fair to say it will never be the same without him."
Taiwanese television host and actor posted a photo of Gao and wrote: "When you’re with him, SO many people come up and the first thing they say is how good-looking he is, how handsome he is, how beautiful he is.
"So often admired for his exterior by fans and strangers.
"What they don’t know is how humble he is, how approachable he is, how modest he is, how wonderfully unintimidating a star he is."
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