Aidan Fenton was seven years old when he died. Photo / Supplied
Aidan Fenton was seven years old when he died. Photo / Supplied
Police are investigating whether a diabetic Sydney boy was taken off his insulin when he died after attending a "slapping therapy" workshop conducted by a Chinese healer.
The Daily Telegraph reports that the family of seven-year-old Aidan Fenton was taking part in an $1800-a-week-long alternative Chinese medicine workshop at the Tasly Healthpac Centre in Hurstville when he died.
Chinese therapist Hongchi Xiao, who advocates the use of slapping therapy until patients are bruised to cure illnesses and rid the body of poisons, is now being investigated by police over the death.
Mr Xiao, who hosted seminars at the workshop, has since left the country.
Participants in the seminar were asked to fast for three days and to undertake the slapping and stretching exercises that can prompt vomiting and dizzy spells, known as a "healing crisis".
Aidan reportedly was among those vomiting during the seminar.
Police confirmed they were conducting inquiries into the death of the seven-year-old boy at the nearby Hurstville Ritz Hotel where he had been staying after the seminar with his parents.
Chinese therapist Hongchi Xiao advocates the use of slapping therapy until patients are bruised. Photo / Facebook
"At about 9.50pm on Monday April 28 emergency services were called to a hotel in Hurstville after a family member found a seven-year-old boy in an unconscious state," a police spokesman told Daily Mail Australia.
"The ambulance paramedics performed CPR on the boy, however he was pronounced dead at the scene.
"An investigation into the boy's death is now underway. While initial inquiries indicate the boy had a chronic medical condition. Police are awaiting post-mortem test to determine the cause of his death.
"Police are continuing to interview witnesses and the matter will ultimately be handed to the coroner for ruling."
Aidan Fenton as a baby. He was taking part in an $1800--week-longalternative Chinese medicine workshop. Photo / Supplied
The Daily Telegraph reports Mr Xiao was in Sydney following a tour of New Zealand to promote his "Paida-Lajin" therapy, which involves slapping the body until it bruises to 'unblock poisons'.
In 2011, Taiwanese authorities expelled Xiao from the country and fined him $US1600 for violating medical regulations.
In the same year relatives of a liver cancer patient complained to police after they paid $A4000 to attend Xiao's therapy sessions only for him to die three months later, according to reports in the Chinese media.
