Indonesian Hindu Practitioner Who Sprayed Insecticide in Mouth Saying "No Problem" Dies

Hindu practitioner I Wayan Merta posted a video on social media (SNS) showing him wildly shaking a spray insecticide and then spraying it into his mouth. [Photo by SNS]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hwang Sumi] An Indonesian Hindu ascetic who gained attention by posting videos on social media (SNS) spraying insecticide into his mouth for tens of seconds has suddenly passed away.

According to local media reports on the 8th (local time), the Hindu ascetic I Wayan Merta, who lived in Jimbaran, Bali Island, Indonesia, died on the 2nd. A few years ago, he stirred up a spray insecticide can wildly and sprayed it into his mouth, boasting "I'm fine," and posted the video on social media (SNS), attracting attention.

In the video, he repeatedly sprayed the insecticide can, which kills pests, into his mouth for tens of seconds with a smiling face after shaking it. He became famous for this bizarre behavior, and the insecticide he used, "Baygon," also gained attention.

Netizens suspected his cause of death was "frequent inhalation of insecticide," but his family claimed, "The video of inhaling insecticide was filmed about two years ago," and "He has not done such behavior since then." They also added, "He was found collapsed on the floor after falling from the bed and was taken to the hospital," and "The cause of death was a heart attack."