Chinese football fan dies of exhaustion after staying up to watch Euro 2012

A football fan from China has died at the age of 26 after going 11 nights without sleep because he did not want to miss any of the action at Euro 2012.

Because of global time differences, the matches have been taking place during the middle of the night in most parts of Asia.

Jiang Xiaoshan of Changsha is said to have stayed up for 11 consecutive nights to watch the games with friends and then gone to work the following day.

Sina.com reported that, following Italy's 2-0 win over the Republic of Ireland, Xiaoshan went back to his home at 5am on Tuesday, had a shower, fell asleep and never woke up.

Daily Mail sources claim that the effects of frequent consumption of alcohol and tobacco, combined with the chronic exhaustion, weakened his immune system and were responsible for his death.

Xiaoshan is believed to have been supporting England and France.