A Lunar New Year celebration in Taiwan took a revolting turn when an elderly temple chief vomited over the country’s president in full view of disgusted onlookers.
Shocking footage captures the moment Taiwanese leader Lai Ching-te is caught in the unfortunate blast as Lin Pei-huo, head of the Sacrificial Rites Martial Temple, falls visibly unwell during the public appearance.
The pair had been standing side-by-side among local dignitaries when Lin began to show signs of distress.
Wearing a red hoodie, President Lai appears oblivious at first as the temple chairman blinks repeatedly, clenches his fists, and slowly turns his head, clearly struggling.
Seconds later, Lin raises a hand to his mouth but is unable to stop himself from spewing into his palm.
Although he manages to shield much of it, some of the spray lands on the president’s shoulder.
The elderly official then staggers away from the line-up and steadies himself against a nearby table as aides rush to help.
Shocking footage captures the moment Taiwanese leader Lai Ching-te is caught in the unfortunate blast as Lin Pei-huo, head of the Sacrificial Rites Martial Temple, falls visibly unwell during the public appearance
Lin raises a hand to his mouth but is unable to stop himself from spewing into his palm
The elderly official then staggers away from the line-up and steadies himself against a nearby table as aides rush to help
Remarkably, Lai – who trained as a doctor before entering politics – initially steps forward after being struck, before turning back to assist the stricken chairman.
He is said to have helped direct first-aid measures as the organisers temporarily halted the event.
Addressing the crowd afterwards, the president explained that several of Lin’s family members had recently contracted norovirus and suggested the chairman may also have been infected.
He later confirmed that Lin’s condition had stabilised.
Lin subsequently apologised for the disruption, saying his relatives had recently been infected with norovirus and that he too had fallen ill.
He described the incident as unavoidable at the moment and expressed regret to those attending the ceremony.
