A teenage powerlifting champion in India has died after a rod weighing 600lb fell on her neck during a training session.
Yashtika Acharya, 17, was practicing with her coach at a gym in the Bikaner district in western India today when the fatal accident occurred.
The teen was rushed to hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
Horrifying footage captured the tragic moment, showing Acharya attempting to lift the heavy weight before falling backwards.
As she drops onto the floor, the heavy bar lands on her neck and she collapses.
The girl is then seen lying on the ground motionless as onlookers rush to assist her.
Her coach, who tried to hold onto the bar as she fell, reportedly sustained minor injuries.
Despite her young age, Acharya had achieved several wins in her short weightlifting career. According to Indian news outlet NDTV, she had received a gold medal at the Junior National Games in India.
A teenage powerlifting champion in India has died after a rod weighing 600lb fell on her neck during a training session
Yashtika Acharya, 17, died today following the horrific accident at an Indian gym
Powerlifting is a form of competitive weightlifting. If done incorrectly, it can lead to serious and even deadly injuries.
Acharya’s tragic accident is the latest in a series of deaths within the powerlifting community.
In 2023, a fitness influencer was killed in Bali by a barbell while trying to squat-press 460lbs in a horror accident.
Justyn Vicky, 33, was strength training at The Paradise Bali gym in Sanur and died shortly after the freak accident.
After the accident, Justyn was rushed to a local hospital with a broken neck and critical compression of vital nerves connecting to his heart and lungs.
He died shortly after an emergency operation, despite the surgeons’ best efforts to save his life.
Justyn, from East Java, Indonesia, was trying to extend his legs as the heavy bar weighed down upon his shoulders – but struggled to stand upright.
The lone spotter behind him was completely helpless as Justyn fell to the floor and the stacked barbell came crashing down onto the back of his neck.
