KOTA KINABALU, Jan 21 ― Rumours spread here that a man was electrocuted by a coin-operated massage chair at a shopping centre, before authorities confirmed that the device had nothing to do with his death.

A 1Borneo shopping centre management spokesperson said that the man, a security guard with the cinema in the mall, suffered a stroke while on duty at around 9pm and collapsed around the ticketing area last Saturday night.

“Concerned bystanders carried him somewhere where there was more space, as it was crowded where he collapsed. They tried to revive him and called an ambulance, but by the time one came, they declared him dead,” said the spokesperson.

Rumours earlier circulated on Twitter and Facebook along with a picture of the man, in his 60s, claiming he had died from electric shock while sitting on the massage chair.

“There is no truth to the rumours. He was unwell, and his passing had nothing to do with the massage chair,” said the spokesperson.

Yesterday, Twitter account Sabah Information or @SabahInfo tweeted “A man died on massage chair at 1B today. Viral on whasapp(sic) group” along with an image of someone on a stretcher being wheeled away.

The image has been retweeted 228 times and is also spreading on WhatsApp groups.