A regular day in the gym has turned into a complete nightmare in Brazil after a squat machine collapsed on a man in a freak accident and left him paralyzed. The 42-year-old man is currently recovering from his serious injuries with support from his family and friends. Footage from the accident has emerged and sent shockwaves among people who visit the gym daily. Even seemingly controlled environments like fitness facilities can sometimes prove to be hazardous in the wrong circumstances. Let’s look closer at the squat machine freak accident in Brazil that paralyzed a man.
Viral video of the squat machine freak accident
Things were going smoothly at the 220 FIT gym in Juazeiro do Norte, Ceará, Brazil, on August 4th before the freak accident happened. Regilânio da Silva is a 42-year-old father of three. He was in the midst of his exercise routine and decided to take a break between sets.
Brazil, Juazeiro do Norte, Ceará: Regilânio da Silva (42) was seriously injured when a squat machine holding 330 pounds of plates collapsed and crushes his neck. Surgeon said Silva has 1 percent chance of ever walking again. pic.twitter.com/zoKRhLyXVZ
— DeL2000 (@DeL2000) August 8, 2023
His decision turned out to be almost fatal as he sat down on a squat machine to take a rest. The gym’s CCTV cameras show the complete accident unfolding as the machine holding 150kg plates crashes out of nowhere. As a result, the entire weight crashes down on his neck.
Bystanders on the gym floor rushed to Da Silva’s help and sort out the emergency. They removed the weight from his neck and called for medical assistance. An ambulance arrived and took the man to Santo Antonio Hospital, where his condition was stabilized later.
Will Da Silva be able to walk again?
Despite staying alive by a miracle, Regilânio da Silva faces a long and challenging road ahead regarding recovery. The squat machine freak accident has caused severe damage to his spine and nervous system, paralyzing him. It is unlikely that he will ever walk again.
As of now, Da Silva can use his arms, but he has lost all sensation and ability to move in his legs. Unfortunately, he is paralyzed from the waist down. Dr. José Correia, a neurosurgeon who attended to Da Silva’s case, is not particularly optimistic about his condition.
Speaking on the extent of the injury, the doctor explained that the thoracolumbar junction had suffered a loss of bone continuity. The junction is a critical transition point between the rib cage and the lumbar region, resulting in extremely severe neurological damage.
Statistically, the chances of Da Silva regaining motor and sensory functions in his lower body are less than 1%. This is one of the most severe injuries in terms of neurological damage. It took several hours of surgery to stabilize the man’s spine.
Squat machine issue and crowdfunding campaign
Talking about the freak accident, 220 FIT gym’s manager Cicero Aparecido explained that the squat machine was only two months old. The machine met all compliance standards on a recent inspection. It facilitated conventional squats rather than freestyle squats.
However, Da Silva mistakenly sat on the platform meant for foot support, leading to the machine’s collapse. The gym and Da Silva’s family contributed to his emergency surgery’s cost of approximately $7,000.
They have launched a crowdfunding campaign to raise funds for his rehabilitation journey. So far, they have raised over $10,000.
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