Chinese TV network apologises over death of Godfrey Gao
- Director of reality show says Gao treated by medical personnel within minutes of collapsing on-set
Zhejiang Television offered the apology in an interview with the show’s director, Lin Yong, posted online on Thursday, about a week after Gao, also known as Yixiang in Mandarin, collapsed while shooting an episode of Chase Me.
In the post, titled “Sorry, we didn’t protect Yixiang in his prime”, Lin said the network had been “immersed in grief and remorse since the accident happened”.
“We feel we owe an apology to Godfrey Gao, to his parents and to all who loved him,” he said.
Gao, 35, was a contestant in the show and collapsed after running about 600 metres (660 yards). He later died in hospital. His body has been sent to Taipei, where a funeral will be held on December 15.
The show had aired every Friday for three weeks but was not broadcast last week, and Lin confirmed to the Qianjiang Evening News that production had stopped permanently.