Delivery agent, 55, dies while napping on bike after 18-hour shift. He had broken his leg a month back

A 55-year-old Chinese delivery man died while napping on his electric bike after enduring an excruciating 18-hour workday in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province in China. The death of Yuan, brought to public attention through a widely circulated video on September 6, has ignited a debate on the relentless pressure delivery workers face daily.

Yuan, who had earned a reputation for his tireless dedication and was often referred to as the “Order King,” was found dead in the early hours of September 6 by a fellow delivery driver.

According to witnesses, Yuan had been working from around 9 pm on September 5 until he was discovered at 1 am the following morning. Yang Yang, a colleague of Yuan, told Zonglan News, “He worked long hours, sometimes until 3 am, and would resume work at 6 am after a short nap on his bike. On rainy days, his earnings could go above 700 yuan (Rs 8,300).”

Just a month prior to his death, Yuan had suffered a leg fracture in a traffic accident while on the job. Despite the injury, he only took a brief 10-day break before resuming work, according to another colleague, Zhao Hua. Yuan had moved to Hangzhou from Hubei province to support his family, including his 16-year-old son who is studying in the city.