Weightlifter dies after barbell falls on his chest during workout
A man died after a heavy barbell slipped out of his hands and fell on his chest while he was working out in a gym.
According to a report by Daily Mail, Ronald Montenegro, 55, was lifting weights, as he regularly did at RW Academia, a gym in the town of Olinda, Brazil. At one point, he lost his grip on the barbell, which crashed down on his chest.
A CCTV clip obtained by the media outlet shows the moment the barbell fell on Montenegro's chest. He managed to still get up afterward, but collapsed on the floor a few moments later.
Gym workers and other people working out rushed Montenegro to a nearby health center, but physicians failed to save his life.
The gym posted a statement after Montenegro's death, saying its entire team gave him immediate assistance.
"We extend our sincere condolences to his family and friends, wishing them strength and comfort at this time of immeasurable grief. Ronald...will always be remembered with respect and affection by all who were part of his journey in our community," it said.
The Daily Mail report added a comment by one of Montenegro's relatives, speaking to Brazilian media on condition of anonymity: "This is a workout that requires a trainer. What we want is for gyms to look at the issue of prevention in relation to this equipment. Trainers cannot let students do it on their own, even if they know how to do the movement."
Montenegro, a father of two, was the president of Palacio dos Bonecos Gigantes, a museum in Olinda that houses gigantic papier-maché and cloth puppets, some of which weigh up to 45 kilos and are 15 feet tall. The puppets are famous "participants" in Rio de Janeiro's annual Carnival Festival.
The museum mourned his death in a statement.
"Today we have lost not only a leader, but also a friend, a creator, a passionate defender of Popular Culture, and one of the main people responsible for keeping alive the tradition of the giant dolls that enchant Olinda and the world," the statement read in Portuguese, translated to English.
"His dedication, vision, and love for Carnival marked generations and will remain alive in every detail of our work," the museum added.
