Three people in Guangdong province were arrested for manslaughter after a 50-year-old man drowned during a training course to boost life skills, Southern Metropolis Daily reported on Wednesday.

The suspects had held more than 20 training programs since 2010 without a license.

On May 17 trainer Liu Minkang asked two people to hold the victim, surnamed Huang, under water for 30 seconds.

Participants paid 30,000 yuan ($4,840) to attend the course, which was meant to improve emotional management and boost general life skills.

The Guangzhou Panyu district procuratorate said Liu and his two colleagues conducted an extremely dangerous course without proper safeguards.

The procuratorate also warned residents to check licenses before attending training courses.