Brazilian Man Dies After Barbell Falls on Chest During Bench Press

A man in his 50s died after dropping a barbell onto his chest while exercising at a fitness center in Brazil.

According to the Daily Mail, Ronnald Montenegro, 50, lost grip of a heavy barbell while performing a bench press at a gym in Olinda, Pernambuco state, on January 1. The barbell immediately fell onto his chest.

Closed-circuit television footage from the gym showed Montenegro struggling to push the barbell off to the side after the impact. He soon lost his balance and collapsed. Staff and members at the scene rushed to provide emergency assistance, but Montenegro died from chest injuries after being transported to a hospital. The gym expressed condolences, saying, "We immediately attempted a rescue but could not prevent this tragic outcome."

Montenegro was known for operating a museum in Olinda and working to preserve local festival culture. The museum announced a period of mourning, stating, "We have lost a cherished colleague who protected public culture."

Local police investigated the incident but reportedly concluded it was a simple accident.