I was just doing my job, says guard accused of sexual harassment by Chinese internet users

A security guard in eastern China has been accused of sexual harassment by local internet users after carrying an unconscious woman off the stage of a celebrity show last week, a local newspaper reported.

The show, in Hangzhou, the capital of Zhejiang province, was attended by some Korean movie stars and drew many fans, but the situation soon got out of control as fans tried to get close to the celebrities, according to the Qianjiang Evening News.

The security guard lifted up a woman who had collapsed and carried her out of the crowd with a hand under her bottom.

The image was captured on film by a photographer from the newspaper and went viral online, with many internet users accusing the guard of indecent behaviour.

The 40-year-old guard defended his actions, saying it was an emergency and that he did not notice that his left hand touched bare skin as the woman was wearing very short pants.

He said he was married with children and that the online fury sparked by the photograph had disturbed his family.