Death by drinking boiled water

喝开水 (死) (hē kāi shuǐ (sǐ)): death from drinking boiled water

This term comes from the unlikely explanation of the death of prison inmate Wang Yahui. The police initially claimed that Wang had died after drinking some boiled water. The explanation elicited online derision especially in light of the claims by Wang’s family that he had sustained injuries to his chest, arms, head, and genitals. The Henan provincial public security department eventually admitted that Wang had died from police torture.

This incident follows a pattern of similar incidents such as “death by hide and seek,” "death from hanging," “death by slipping and falling,” “death from having a nightmare,” and “death from being overly excited.” (see here (English) and here (Chinese)).

"He drank some boiled water and suddenly fell ill."

Competition for the lamest excuse for a prison inmate's death. In first place is "drank boiled water," in second place is "played hide and go seek," and in third place is "hung himself with his own shoelace."