Bloodcurdling footage shows moment squat machine crushes man’s neck in gym

Blood-curdling footage shows the moment a man’s neck is crushed by gym equipment, with his surgeon predicting it’s unlikely he’ll ever walk again.

Warning: Graphic content

A man in Brazil suffered a severe injury from a bodybuilding machine at a gym, leaving him with a mere one per cent chance of ever regaining the ability to walk.

The incident, captured dramatically on video, occurred as 42-year-old Regilânio da Silva took a break during his workout.

While seated on a bench, a machine holding roughly 150kg of plates collapsed onto his neck at a training centre in Juazeiro do Norte, Ceará.

Witnesses quickly sprang into action, removing the lever from da Silva’s back and calling for assistance.

After the accident, da Silva underwent a four-hour emergency procedure at Santo Antônio Hospital to stabilise his neck.

42-year-old Regilânio da Silva. Picture: Instagram

Although his medical status was reported as stable, he currently lacks mobility in his legs while maintaining some mobility in his arms.

According to neurosurgeon Dr José Correia, the prospects of da Silva regaining walking ability are exceedingly slim.

Dr Correia emphasised the gravity of the neurological damage to the Brazilian news outlet G1, stating, “There are neither motor nor sensitive components, unfortunately,” he said.

Footage shows the horrifying moment a squat machine lever crushes the neck of da Silva, 42, at a Brazilian gym. Picture: Twitter

“It is the most serious injury there is from the point of view of neurological damage.

“The chance is, statistically, less than one per cent of the return of motor and sensitive functions.”

He further explained that the injury had led to a loss of bone continuity in the thoracolumbar junction, which connects the rib cage to the lumbar region.

In a statement on social media, the gym, 220 FIT, confirmed the machine had been acquired less than 60 days before the incident and was in “perfect working order”.

“We would like to point out that regular maintenance is carried out on all machinery,’ the gym stated, translated from Portuguese.

da Silva was resting on when the incident occurred. Picture: Twitter

Approximately 150 kgs crashed onto his neck. Picture: Twitter

Other gym-goers rushed to his aid but da Silva’s body fell limp. Picture: Twitter

“The academy was recently inspected by its responsible body CREF5 and is in full compliance with the public for its operation.”

According to the Daily Mail, Cícero Aparecido, a manager at the training facility, clarified that customers had been performing “conventional squats on the machine rather than freestyle squats,” highlighting its appropriate usage.

In the wake of the accident, da Silva’s family and the gym collaborated to cover the $7,000 cost of his surgery.

They established a crowd-funding campaign to aid da Silva’s recovery.

The family expressed their hopes, stating, “Let’s pray that Regi recovers quickly and that his progress is blessed by divine grace to regain leg movement.”