Programmer Dies After Overwork—Then Gets Work Assignment Hours After Death

A 32-year-old Chinese programmer tragically passed away from a sudden heart attack after years of intense overwork.

Gao Guanghui collapsed on a Saturday in November 2025 after waking up feeling unwell but still logging into his company’s system multiple times before being rushed to the hospital.

His wife revealed that he often worked past 9:30 p.m. every night, a routine that became “normal” after his promotion to team leader in 2021.

Even while being resuscitated, Gao was added to a new work chat. Eight hours after he passed away, he was assigned another work task.

The story quickly went viral in China, striking a deep chord with netizens who saw their own struggles reflected in his life. As outrage grows, many are once again calling for reform of China’s notorious overwork culture, saying no job should cost someone their life.