The final footage of supermodel Godfrey Gao shows him struggling to run and appearing exhausted moments before he died from a heart attack on the set of a reality TV show in China.
Taiwanese-Canadian actor and fashion star Godfrey, the first Asian model to be the face of Louis Vuitton, died aged 35 while filming TV show Chase Me in Ningbo, China on Wednesday.
After reports emerged the star had filmed for 17 hours straight before his death, a clip from the programme shows him ‘struggling to run’ in the final minutes before he collapsed and went into cardiac arrest.
Final footage: The final footage of supermodel Godfrey Gao shows him struggling to run and appearing exhausted just moments before he died from a heart attack on the set of a reality TV show in China
Shock death:Taiwanese-Canadian actor and supermodel Godfrey, the first Asian model to be the face of Louis Vuitton, died aged 35 while filming TV show Chase Me in Ningbo, China on Wednesday (pictured 2017)
In the clip, posted on Chinese social media site Weibo, Godfrey, clad in the show’s signature blue and black jumpsuit with neon lights jogs, slowly down a street.
Looking fatigued, he then slows down before reaching an incline, and bends over as he uses his arm to pull himself up the ramp.
Head down, Godfrey struggles to walk up the ramp before reaching the top and walking out of camera shot.
Fans of the star took to social media to comment on the haunting final video, with one writing: ‘Does the show team need to be responsible? !! On-site medical staff! The celebrity is dedicated again, but it can be clearly seen that the body is abnormal, and the staff should come forward and care!’
Haunting: After reports emerged the star had filmed for 17 hours straight before collapsing on the set, a clip from the programme shows him ‘struggling to run’ in his final minutes
Before: In the clip, posted on Chinese social media site Weibo, Godfrey, clad in the show’s signature blue and black jumpsuit with neon lights jogs slowly down a street
‘Exhaustion’: Looking fatigued, he then slows down before reaching an incline, and bends over as he uses his arm to pull himself up the ramp
Final moments: Head down, Godfrey struggles to walk up the ramp before reaching the top and walking out of camera shot
Another wrote: ‘I really hope this was not your last moment’ while a third wrote ‘this makes me feel so bad.’
This comes amid claims Godfrey reportedly filmed for 17 hours straight and cried out ‘I can’t keep going’ before dying.
Sina reports that Godfrey was unwell with a cold before taking part but filmed ‘continuously’ for 17 hours- from 8.30am on Tuesday November 26 to 1.45am, before collapsing on set.
Much missed: This comes amid claims Godfrey reportedly filmed for 17 hours straight and cried out ‘I can’t keep going’ before dying
It was also claimed by his friends he attended an event on the Monday and travelled straight to filming Chase Me without taking a rest day.
Chase Me sees contestants work their way through a series of physically demanding obstacle courses in an urban race style setting with the show aired on China’s Zhejiang Television network.
According to China’s Tencent News, an audience member heard Gao shout ‘I can’t keep going’ as he slowed down in the race, before he collapsed.
Cameramen are said to have initially zoomed in on Godfrey, believing his fall was a dramatic moment in the reality show before realising something was wrong and getting emergency care for the star.
Icon: Sina reports that Godfrey was unwell with a cold before taking part but filmed ‘continuously’ for almost 17 hours straight – from 8.30am on Tuesday November 26 to 1.45am, before collapsing on set (pictured 2017)
MailOnline has contacted representatives for Godfrey Gao and Zheijiang Television for comment.
A statement from the TV network said the actor and model was taken to hospital where it was confirmed he died as a result of a cardiac arrest.
It read: ‘Guest participant Godfrey suddenly collapsed to the ground while running. The programme’s on-site paramedics began lifesaving measures immediately and urgently transported him to the hospital,’
‘After two hours of all-out efforts to save him, the hospital [said] he had suffered a sudden cardiac death.
Gone too soon: According to China’s Tencent News, an audience member heard Gao shout ‘I can’t keep going’ as he slowed down in the race, before he collapsed
His management company Jetstar Entertainment said in a statement posted on the Twitter-like Weibo platform that Gao had fainted and was declared dead after nearly three hours of medical care.
It read: ‘During the early hours of November 27, while he was recording a programme, our beloved Godfrey Gao suddenly collapsed. After three hours of emergency treatment, unfortunately he left us. We are shocked and heartbroken by this loss and find it impossible to accept it.
‘We would like to thank all media friends and fans of Godfrey for extending your concerns. His agent and team were by his side throughout [the incident]. His family have rushed to the city.
‘Please forgive the sorrow and sadness Godfrey’s family are going through. We ask people to kindly leave their family alone (in this difficult time). We will help Godfrey’s family deal with the aftermaths in a low profile. Many thanks to everyone.
They added that everyone involved was in ‘incomparable pain’ and that they and the family would be organising the funeral for the star.
In 2011, Gao became the first Asian model to be signed by Louis Vuitton.
Tragic circumstances: His management company Jetstar Entertainment said in a statement posted on the Twitter-like Weibo platform that Gao had fainted and was declared dead after nearly three hours of medical care
Debonair: The handsome model/actor had taken to Instagram in a tux in a series of shots last week (image on the left). On the right he appears as he poses for a luxury fashion shoot in Beijing
The model had also ventured into film, having appeared in movies in both China and Hollywood. They included the 2019 Chinese film Shanghai Fortress, and the 2013 title, The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones and The Jade Pendant.
One of the last tweets he shared on his Twitter feed was with actor Adam Sandler. The two appeared in a selfie after what appeared to have been an impromptu game of tennis.
Godfrey Gao appears in a tweet with fellow actor Adam Sandler after an impromptu game of tennis
His co-star on the film Jamie Campbell took to Instagram to react to the sad news on Wednesday night.
Campbell posted a sweet black and white snap of the two men cuddles up with the caption: ‘our friend. Heartbroken’
‘our friend. Heartbroken’: His co-star on the film Jamie Campbell took to Instagram to react to the sad news on Wednesday night
He had next been slated to appear in a romantic comedy titled The Wedding Bible, according to iMDb.
Across social media, many people paid tribute to the late model-actor.
‘Condolences to family and friends, may he rest In peace,’ one user wrote, while CNN’s Jeff Yang said, ‘Heartbreaking. He was just 35. We saw him at an event earlier this year. I can’t believe this.’
Godfrey Gao (far right) appears with friends on a night out in a photograph he shared on his Instagram page before he died. Friends, family and fans have been reacting to the news of the actor’s sudden death on the set of a Chinese TV show
Feedback: A number of people took to Twitter to pay memorial to the late model-actor