KUALA LUMPUR — Recent incidents across the globe have underscored the potential dangers inherent in weightlifting and power training, resulting in several tragic deaths. From a bench press accident in China to squat failures in Indonesia and Mexico, and a powerlifting practice gone wrong in India, these events serve as somber reminders of the critical need for safety precautions in fitness pursuits.
In Wuhan, China, a deeply unfortunate incident claimed the life of a 25-year-old man. The victim, identified as Zhang, was performing bench presses at a local gym without the crucial presence of a spotter.
The gym was located in China’s Hubei Province. The accident occurred at 3 p.m. local time on Thursday, September 14.
Zhang was attempting to lift a substantial weight, a barbell weighing more than 100 kg. This weight included about 50 kg loaded onto each end of the shaft.
A distressing 29-second video capturing the incident has circulated on various news platforms. This footage depicted Zhang struggling intensely to lift the heavy barbell during his bench press.
As Zhang strained against the weight, his arms unfortunately gave way. The barbell’s shaft then rolled from his chest area upwards onto his neck.
Tragically, this movement pinned his head down firmly against the bench. What followed was a desperate struggle for survival, lasting for approximately 25 seconds according to reports.
During this harrowing duration, Zhang reportedly made several attempts to free himself from the trapped position. This included an effort to remove what appeared to be a weightlifting belt he was wearing.
Despite his desperate efforts, Zhang began experiencing violent spasms. Following these spasms, he abruptly lost consciousness while still pinned beneath the weight.
More than a minute elapsed before anyone else present in the gym noticed the severity of the situation. Once alerted, two employees at the gym rushed over to assist.
The employees attempted to lift the heavy barbell off Zhang. However, despite their efforts and intervention, he could not be revived following the accident.
Zhang was known to be a regular attendee at the Wuhan Pafik Fitness Club, the location where the fatal incident took place. He had a history of lifting substantial barbell weights in the past.
It remains unclear why Zhang chose to attempt this challenging exercise, specifically the bench press with such a heavy weight, without the standard safety measure of a spotter present to assist him.
Local authorities in Wuhan have initiated an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the accident. This inquiry aims to understand the full sequence of events that led to the tragic outcome.
This incident in Wuhan draws a parallel to a similar fatal case that occurred just two months prior, in July. That previous incident involved Indonesian fitness influencer Justyn Vicky.
Vicky tragically lost his life while attempting a shoulder lift exercise with a barbell weighing nearly 210 kg. Even with the presence of a spotter, that accident resulted in a fatal injury when the barbell’s shaft rolled over Vicky’s head.
In a separate and equally devastating event in India, a teenage powerlifting champion died during a training session. The athlete, 17-year-old Yashtika Acharya, was killed when a rod weighing 600 lb fell onto her neck.
The accident occurred today at a gym located in the Bikaner district in western India. Yashtika was practicing at the time with her coach present.
Following the horrific accident, the teen was quickly rushed to a nearby hospital. Tragically, she was pronounced dead shortly after arriving at the medical facility.
Horrifying footage of the incident has been captured. The video shows Acharya attempting to lift the heavy weight as part of her training routine.
The footage then shows the moment she fell backwards while attempting the lift. As she dropped onto the floor, the heavy bar followed her down.
The 600 lb bar landed directly on her neck upon impact. She then collapsed and was seen lying motionless on the ground in the distressing video.
Onlookers present at the gym can be seen rushing forward to assist her immediately after the bar fell and she collapsed. Her coach, who was reportedly trying to hold onto the bar as she fell, sustained minor injuries during the incident.
Despite her young age, Yashtika Acharya had already achieved significant success in her relatively short weightlifting career. According to the Indian news outlet NDTV, she had recently received a gold medal at the Junior National Games in India, highlighting her potential.
Powerlifting, the competitive sport in which Acharya participated, involves lifting maximum weight in specific exercises. While rewarding, the sport inherently carries risks, and if done incorrectly, it can unfortunately lead to serious and even deadly injuries, as tragically demonstrated by this accident.
Acharya’s death marks the latest in a series of fatal incidents that have shaken the powerlifting and fitness community over the past year, drawing attention to the potential dangers involved in lifting heavy weights.
Continuing this concerning trend, another fatal accident involving a barbell occurred in Bali, Indonesia, in July 2023. Fitness influencer Justyn Vicky, aged 33, died after an accident while attempting to squat-press 460 lbs.
The incident took place while Vicky was strength training at The Paradise Bali gym in Sanur. He tragically died shortly after the freak accident occurred.
After the accident, Justyn was urgently transported to a local hospital. Medical examination revealed he had suffered a broken neck and critical compression of vital nerves, specifically those connecting to his heart and lungs—a severe injury.
Despite undergoing an emergency operation, and despite the dedicated efforts of the surgeons working to save his life, Justyn unfortunately died shortly after the procedure.
Justyn, originally from East Java, Indonesia, was attempting to extend his legs during the squat-press exercise. The heavy bar was weighing down upon his shoulders as he tried to complete the lift.
However, he struggled significantly and was unable to stand upright to finish the movement successfully. The exercise proved to be beyond his capacity at that moment.
A lone spotter was positioned behind Justyn during the attempt. Despite his presence, the spotter was rendered completely helpless when Justyn fell to the floor under the weight.
As Justyn fell, the stacked barbell, estimated to weigh between 180 kg and 210 kg according to Indonesian media outlets, came crashing down.
The heavy equipment landed directly onto the back of his neck upon impact. Social media footage also reportedly showed him trying to stretch his legs but struggling to stand upright.
While the spotter did attempt to hold on to the barbell as Justyn fell, he was ultimately unable to prevent the massive piece of equipment from landing on Justyn, highlighting the difficulty of spotting extremely heavy weights.
News site Bali Discovery reported the details of Justyn being taken to the hospital with a broken neck and the subsequent failed emergency operation, confirming the severity of the injury.
Following Justyn Vicky’s death, an outpouring of tributes appeared online from friends, followers, and colleagues. The fitness coach had cultivated a significant following, exceeding 30,000 individuals on his Instagram account.
His close friend, Gede Sutarya, spoke fondly of Justyn, stating that he was a trainer who consistently shared his knowledge about physical fitness with others, according to Bali Express.
Gede described Justyn as a kind, sociable, and polite man. He also emphasized that Justyn frequently offered advice to his friends at the gym, urging them to exercise caution and warning them not to push themselves beyond their individual capabilities during their workouts.
Gede concluded his tribute by expressing hope that Justyn would rest in peace, a sentiment shared by many in the fitness community.
The Paradise Bali gym, where Justyn was employed and where the accident occurred, also posted a tribute on its Instagram page. The gym stated that he was more than just a fitness expert to them and their members.
The gym described him as “a beacon of inspiration and motivation” and gave unwavering support to those around him. They highlighted the unique atmosphere he created, stating that “Every session with Justyn felt like much more than just exercise.
The tribute continued, acknowledging that Justyn created a nurturing environment at the gym where members “felt safe to challenge ourselves, both physically and mentally,” underscoring his positive impact on the community.
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It is noted that this incident involving Justyn Vicky was described as not the first death-by-squat accident. Another account mentioned him attempting to squat 396.8 pounds and ending up snapping his neck as the barbell rolled across his shoulders and moved over his head, reinforcing the critical role of proper technique and spotter effectiveness at high weights.
More recently, a seemingly healthy 22-year-old woman in Mexico also died at the gym while performing barbell squats. Ariatna Lizeth Mata Esparza, from Torreón, met her untimely fate earlier this month, leaving many questions about the cause.
At the time information became available, the exact amount of weight Esparza was lifting during her fatal squat routine was not specified.
According to local officials who provided updates on August 22, 2024, Esparza suddenly collapsed to the floor during her strenuous workout session at the local gym.
Paramedics were dispatched and arrived quickly at the scene of the incident. Despite their rapid response and efforts, she was tragically pronounced dead shortly after their arrival.
Some initial information regarding her mysterious passing has since come forth through official channels. A spokesperson representing the Attorney General’s Office shared details from the autopsy conducted on the deceased.
The autopsy findings revealed that Ariatna Lizeth Mata Esparza suffered from a condition known as anoxemia. Anoxemia occurs when there is an insufficient amount of oxygen present in the blood circulation.
Upon reviewing these specific findings, some medical professionals and others have suggested that her death could potentially have been caused or contributed to by over-exertion during her intense workout session.
In addition to the finding of anoxemia, it was also discovered during the autopsy that Esparza had suffered from a stroke and had blood clots present in her system, complicating the understanding of the precise cause.
Certain medical experts and others familiar with the region have also suggested that Mexico’s relatively high altitude could have been a contributing factor in the incident. Torreón, Mexico, where the incident occurred, is situated approximately 3,600 feet above sea level.
Doctors have specifically insisted that working out at such high altitudes could potentially cause complications, aligning with what tragically happened to Esparza during her workout.
They explained that since more oxygen is naturally utilized by the body during physical exercise, especially strenuous activity, it causes the oxygen levels in the body to decrease more significantly at altitude.
This decrease in oxygen levels could potentially result in cell death if prolonged or severe. Moreover, the sudden rise in blood pressure commonly associated with intense exercise could, at altitude, cause blood vessels to burst.
Such a rupture of blood vessels could ultimately lead to brain hemorrhages, a potentially fatal outcome. However, doctors also noted that individuals who normally work out consistently at higher altitudes are generally less susceptible to experiencing such disastrous outcomes, suggesting individual acclimatization plays a role.
A social media post circulating, which appeared to be a tweet from @lbajopalabra, included a photo of Ariatna Lizeth Mata Esparza and referenced her death.
The accompanying text in Spanish noted that the young woman who died at a gym in Torreón while doing barbell squats did the routine incorrectly and that nobody supervised her, adding that “coaches have other priorities,” suggesting potential negligence or lack of oversight.
Ariatna Lizeth Mata Esparza was a school teacher, and her educational community, Escuela Normal, where she was an ex – student, was quick to offer their thoughts and express profound condolences regarding the tragedy.
Through social media or other channels, the educational community at Escuela Normal de Torreon shared their deep sorrow. They stated, “With profound sadness, the educational community at Escuela Normal de Torreon mourns the regrettable death of our dear ex – student.”
A particularly poignant message, seemingly from a loved one, was also shared within the context of her passing. It read, “My princess, my girl, you’ve gone and left us with empty souls and shattered hearts. Fly high, my love. I love you, my princess,” reflecting the personal devastation caused by her death.
Anoxemia, the condition noted in the autopsy, can indeed lead to the formation of blood clots. This connection led some to suggest that blood clots could have been the primary culprit directly responsible for her passing during the workout.
The series of recent deaths extends beyond these barbell incidents. It includes other high – profile fatalities that have shaken the fitness and bodybuilding community.
Brazilian Bodybuilder Antonio Souza, at just 26 years old, suffered a fatal heart attack on the very night he had won a bodybuilding contest. His family expressed belief that the use of diuretics could potentially have played a role in his sudden death.
There have also been other significant deaths rocking the industry, such as that of Jo Lindner, who passed away at only 30 years old. While preliminary reports suggested an aneurysm was the cause of his death, others within the community and online have speculated that different factors, such as the Covid – 19 vaccine treatment or steroid use, could potentially have been the true underlying causes.
Another recent tragedy involved 33 – year – old fitness influencer Larissa Borges. She unfortunately died after suffering a double cardiac arrest and had spent a week in a coma before her passing.
These cumulative events, from bench press and squat accidents to unexpected medical emergencies following competition or under speculative circumstances, underscore the multifaceted risks present in the world of high – intensity fitness and strength training.
While the gym is a place where many seek to improve their health and physical well – being, the stark reality of these recent tragedies highlights that vigilance, proper form, appropriate weight selection, and the consistent presence of a competent spotter when needed are not merely recommendations but potentially life – saving necessities. The pursuit of strength and fitness, while noble, demands respect for the inherent risks involved, urging all participants and facility operators to prioritize safety above all else.
