Wed Sep 18 01:06:05 UTC 2024: ## Food Delivery Worker Dies in His Sleep After Grueling 18-Hour Workday
**Hangzhou, China:** A 55-year-old food delivery worker, surnamed Yuan, has died after collapsing in his sleep while resting on his electric bike following a grueling 18-hour workday. The incident, which occurred in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province earlier this month, has sparked outrage online and raised concerns about the welfare of delivery drivers in China.
Yuan, known as the “Order King” for his tireless work ethic, was found dead at 1 am on September 6th after working from 9 pm the previous evening. He was reportedly earning between $70 and $85 per day, working until 3 am and then returning to work at 6 am. When tired, he would nap on his bike, ready to immediately fulfill new orders.
A month before his death, Yuan suffered a leg fracture in a traffic accident while delivering an order. Despite resting for 10 days, he returned to work and tragically passed away just two weeks later. He was supporting his 16-year-old son studying in Hangzhou and his married son with children.
The Xianlin Sub-district Office confirmed Yuan’s death and stated that the food delivery platform, the insurance company, and his family have reached an agreement regarding follow-up arrangements.
Social media users expressed anger and sadness over the incident, questioning whether such tragedies are preventable. “Is there really no way to avoid these tragedies?” one user wrote. “He was in his 50s, the sole breadwinner of his family, working day and night. May he rest in peace. I hope in his next life, he will not have to race against time like this.”
Yuan’s death underscores the immense pressure faced by delivery drivers in China, highlighting concerns about their working conditions and lack of legal protections.
First Piper 