The undated photo shows the extremely emaciated elderly man in his home in Pingdu in east China's Shandong province. [Photo: weibo]

An elderly man died of heart attack in the midnight yesterday in Pingdu in east China's Shandong province. He almost starved to death according to earlier reports.

The man has received a basic living allowance starting from August.

An early report about an extremely emaciated elderly peasant in Pingdu, Shandong went viral online.

His land was allegedly sold-off by former village officials. He lived without a family or any close relatives.

The Pindu publicity department announced through Weibo, that the elderly man was being treated at a local hospital and is now in a stable condition. He will also get a basic living allowance starting this month.

The announcement also claimed the elderly man's land has been leased to another local peasant, instead of being sold by the former village officials.