A gym-goer in Guangdong, China, cheated death on May 5 when he narrowly escaped being crushed by a 145kg barbell during a bench press attempt gone wrong. The man, dressed in a black tank-top, pink trousers, and an orange weight belt, attempted to lift the heavy bar but lost strength mid-lift, causing the barbell to drop perilously close to his chest.
The Heart-Stopping Moment
CCTV footage captured the terrifying incident. As the man's arms trembled and fatigue set in, the weights began to crush his neck, turning his face red under strain. In a desperate bid to avoid being crushed, he spun onto his side and then his stomach, frantically kicking his legs as he wriggled free from beneath the barbell.
Unaware Bystanders
Remarkably, fellow gym-goers remained oblivious to the near-fatal accident. One man continued his workout on the adjacent bench, while another sat through the ordeal on his phone with earphones in. The only casualty was a drink cup the man kicked over during his narrow escape.
This incident serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of lifting weights beyond one's capacity, especially without a spotter. The man's quick thinking and agility likely saved his life.
