Teenage weightlifter crushed to death in horror gym tragedy

Graphic Warning: Gym goers have been left shaken after a teenager was crushed to death in a shocking weightlifting accident.

A 17-year-old champion powerlifter was crushed to death by her own 270kg barbell which snapped her neck in a gym.

The Sun reports Yashtika Acharya, from Rajasthan, western India, was a promising young athlete who had won gold in the Junior National Games.

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Harrowing footage of the incident, which you can watch below, captured the weightlifter training at her usual gym when tragedy struck on Tuesday.

The girl was attempting a huge squat lift of almost 300kg where the weight is held on the athlete’s shoulders.

Yashtika, strapped up with safety gear, got into position with her trainer behind for support and a group of others watching on.

This was reportedly her second attempt at the weight, which she had successfully lifted before.

Her trainer counted down, and the girl strained to hold the bar.

But then as the weight was transferred from the rack onto her shoulders, Yashtika stumbled backwards.

The enormous weight was too much for her frame to bear, and her legs gave way.

She fell backwards and despite his best efforts, her trainer could not take the weight of the dumbbell.

The weightlifter was crushed to death by the barbell. Photo: X.

The other young women standing around also tried to help, but the bar was simply too heavy.

As Yashtika landed on her back, the bar crushed down on her head - forcing it forwards and snapping her neck.

The girl lay motionless as her trainer staggered backwards.

She was rushed to hospital but, tragically, could not be saved.

The people who watched the disaster unfold in the gym were reportedly left shaken.

The Naya Shahar Station House Officer (SHO) Vikram Tiwari officially recorded a severe neck injury as the girl’s cause of death.

The young athlete showed great promise - winning gold at the Junior National Games.

17-year-old Yashtika Acharya tragically died after an accident in her gym.

Her body has been released back to her family, following the post-mortem.

In a statement the SHO said: “Yashtika was lifting weights at the gym, Power Headquarters, under her trainer’s supervision.

“During the attempt, she suddenly lost balance, and the bar came crashing down on her neck.

“Fellow gym members quickly rushed to remove the weight, while her coach tried CPR, but she showed no signs of life.”

This article originally appeared in The Sun and was reproduced with permission