Death by nightmare

做噩梦（死） (zuò è mèng (sǐ)): death from nightmare

This is another in a long string of prison deaths that were attributed to outlandish causes. Other incidents include: "death from drinking boiled water,” "death from suffocation by quilt," “death from playing hide and go seek,” “death from hanging,” “death from over excitement” and “death from slipping and falling.”

In this case, prisoner Li Wenyan was reported dead after calling out from a nightmare. The family was suspicious that this was the actual cause of his death, especially after noticing large bruises on Li's forehead. For more about this case, please see here.

"He died from a nightmare."