Weightlifter's Death.

[bonebreaker]

When my boys were still at home, I always had a spotter. When they moved out after graduating college, I had no spotter, but continued to work out alone. In March 2002, I was benching and on my 5th. set I had 315 on the bar, came out of the rack good, (I usually can tell if I can handle a weight when I de-rack it), down slow and back up no problem, felt really strong, did 2, then on the third one, as I was about 2/3rds. the way back up, I heard something like someone tearing a sheet, a ripping sound. It was my right rotator cuff tearing apart. My right arm immediately collapsed and in a millisecond I thought, "you're dead". Fortunately for me I re-thought the situation just as quick--My left arm was still almost to the top, so I just pushed as hard as possible to the top. The 3 45's on the right slid off and then without any weight on that side, the bar just rocketed to the left from the weight of the 3 45's on that side. It slung the bar 10' and would have killed anyone standing there. My rule of thumb has and always will be, NEVER USE COLLARS. If I had used them in this case, I WOULD BE DEAD! When I first started lifting many years ago, I got trapped by 200 lbs, WITH COLLARS. I had to roll the bar from my chest down across my ribcage to my waist then I was able to sit up and get rid of the damn thing. For 2 months, all my ribs, stomach muscles and everything that bar touched was so sore I could hardly move. I can only imagine what 315 or more would do. I really feel terrible for this poor kid and his family, and wish them the best. BB

[meat12]

damn shame, terrible way to go..poor kid:(

[Timber]

This is so sad, I always work out alone and I do have a set up to catch my wt If I fail. But I never lock my plates on the bar so I can always dump the plates on the floor if I have no other option

[JUICE]

I feel bad for the kid and his family. That just sucks. I know 135 aint much to most of us, but u gotta understand that some people start lifting weights at ages 20,30,40,even people begin lifting weights at later ages, we are all beginners in one point. I got a friend whos benching 95 pounds and hes 22 in age, but never has lifted weights before. It sounds like the kid probably panic-ed or something. Ive been through that before when i was on the 8th grade when I first started lifting weights. I had about 100 pounds on the bar and couldnt get it up again. The bar was on my chest, thank god it wasnt on my neck or something. I managed to roll the bar down to my stomach and them push it off me. I also forgot that once again it happend, what i did was tilt the weights to one side where they came off and the bar went flying across the room. SERIOUSLY, I would rather have the wall broken or my tv or stereo, than me getting hurt or killed. Its just tough when u dont have a partner to work out with. Thats why i do drop sets or other types of sets to get a good workout.
I gotta admit, im a bit afraid when doing bench, always cautious the bench is set up right and all.

[Turbo3000]

Damn shame