A Malaysian magician has accidentally boiled himself to death to prove his “physical endurance” to his followers on Monday outside the Kuala Sanglang Qinglong temple. Lim Ba, a 65-year-old Taoist psychic guru was placed inside a large steel wok – heated on boiling water. This is not the first time he will be performing such stunt as he has reportedly performed the boiling stunt a number of times with a personal record of 75 minutes inside the steamer and has been steaming himself for over 10 years.
But this time, onlookers heard frantic knocks coming from inside the pan after 30 minutes and pulled Lim out unconscious. Footage of him convulsing while people try to
get him away from the heat was widely shared on social media. By the time the ambulance arrived, the cult leader had already stopped breathing and was pronounced dead after been rushed to the hospital. Doctor’s reports confirmed he died from a suspected heart attack and second degree burns.
Speaking to the www.thesun.co.uk, his son Kang Huai, 32, said the family had pleaded with him to stop the bizarre ritual but he always refused. Kang said: “The sounds coming from inside the wok were not regular and not normal so we knew there was something wrong. “By the time the ambulance arrived, my father had stopped breathing. He underwent a heart bypass last year due to on-and-off breathing difficulties. “My mother Ch’ng Siew Hong, my sisters and I are very sad. Our cheerful father has left us forever.”
The temple has now cancelled all entertainment as a mark of respect for Lim. Taoist officials said the steaming ritual was “not mainstream” but more of a “magic performance”. Federation of Taoist Associations of Malaysia president Tan Hoe Chioew said: “This steaming man ritual is rarely performed, and I dare not comment on what preparations are needed before you perform this. In general it is not advisable.”
By Chukwuemeka Chigozie