A self-professed 'magic man' has died after accidentally steaming himself to death in a wok while trying to 'cleanse body and soul'.

Lim Ba, also known as Black Dog, could be seen sitting in lotus position in a giant metal pan at a Chinese temple in Suala Sanglang, a small coastal village in northern Malaysia.

A lid was placed over the 68-year-old in preparation for the steaming and he clasped his hands in prayer before a fire was lit under the wok.

But after 30 minutes the performance went horribly wrong and devotees could hear Lim knocking frantically from inside.

Self-professed 'magic man' Lim Ba has died after accidentally steaming himself to death in a wok while trying to 'cleanse his body and soul' in Malaysia. He is pictured minutes before his death as a lid is lowered over his body

Lim Ba, also known as Black Dog, could be seen sitting in lotus position in a giant metal pan at a Chinese temple in Suala Sanglang, a small coastal village in northern Malaysia

The lid was raised - and Lim was found unconscious, steam billowing out around him. He was pronounced dead from major second-degree burns and a heart attack.

The bizarre end to Lim's years as a medium came during what was described as a Nine Emperor God prayer session.

The country's The Star newspaper reported Lim's youngest son, Kang Huai, 32, as saying that his father had been performing human steaming for more than 10 years, despite his family's concerns.

Kang Huai said that during the steaming sessions, rice, sweet corn and vegetarian buns would be placed inside the wok and they would also be steamed.

After 30 minutes the performance went horribly wrong and devotees could hear Lim knocking frantically from inside

The bizarre end to Lim's years as a medium came during what was described as a Nine Emperor God prayer session

The lid was raised - and Lim was found unconscious, steam billowing out around him. He was pronounced dead from major second-degree burns and a heart attack

Lim (right) had been performing human steaming for more than 10 years, despite his family's concerns

The dead man's daughter, Wei Ling 37, said that earlier on that fateful day her father had eaten only sweet potato and green bean biscuits. 'But he was his normal self and took pictures with his devotees.'

Her father's record inside the steam cover, she said, had been 75 minutes.

The Star said that when contacted in China, the President of the Federation of Taoist Associations of Malaysia, Tan Hoe Chioew, said such steaming rituals were not really part of mainstream Taoist rites.

They were more of a 'fa shu', or magic, performance.

'This "steaming man" ritual is rarely performed and I dare not comment on what preparations are needed before you perform this,' said Tan.

Such feats, he said, were done to attract believers and show the performer's physical endurance.

'But in general doing such physical endureance stunts is not advisable.'