Cosplayers at a comic book convention in China sparked outrage by reenacting Kobe Bryant's fatal helicopter crash.

Footage shows the two cosplayers, one dressed as a mixture of Kobe and a helicopter and another dressed as a watermelon holding a water pistol, acting out the macabre scene in Hangzhou, in China's Zhejiang province, on June 2.

The watermelon stereotype is a racist trope originating in the Southern United States.

The first video shows the Kobe cosplayer acting out a battle with the super soaker watermelon character, while the second video appears to show the first cosplayer acting out the star NBA legend's death.

Comic book festival goers can be heard laughing at the bizarre scene.

The clip emerged online where locals said it was in poor taste. They said that the cosplayers had showed a lack of respect to the basketball player, his family and fans.

After the outrage, the cosplayer apologised. He said: 'Entertainment first is not desirable, civilised participation is the most important thing.

'Anyway, I won't make dark jokes in the future.'

NBA legend Kobe Bryant died on the morning of January 27, 2020, in a helicopter crash in Los Angeles, California. Kobe's 13-year-old daughter Gianna also died in the accident.