A teenage powerlifting champion died a horror death when her neck was snapped by a barbell.
Horror footage shows how Yashtika Acharya held the loaded barbell on the base of her neck.
Her trainer was spotting her from behind when she stepped out from the rack to perform a squat.
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However, she stumbled and began falling backwards as the barbell pressed down on her neck.
As the weight plates hit the floor, her neck was bent at a gruesome angle.
As her trainer removed the barbell, she flopped backwards to gasps of horror.
Acharya, 17, was given first aid at the gym in Bikaner, India.
She was rushed to a hospital, but she was pronounced dead on arrival on Tuesday (18 Feb).
Her trainer reportedly sustained minor injuries in the accident.
Local media say Acharya died from a fracture caused by the 270kg (595lb) barbell falling on her neck.
She was from Bikaner and was a junior powerlifter at the national level, according to reports.
The horror unfolded while her family was at a wedding in Hanumangarh.
Acharya had stayed behind in Bikaner to train, as reported by Need To Know.
Police spokesperson Naya Shahar Vikram Tiwari told local media: “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 recovery.”
Acharya reportedly won a gold medal at the National Equipped Bench Press Championship in Vasco da Gama in October 2024.
She is survived by two sisters, one of whom is also a powerlifter and is preparing to compete at the state level.
The police spokesperson added: “The victim’s family has not registered a complaint, but we are investigating the cause of death.
“A post-mortem examination was conducted, and we have seized CCTV footage from the gym to ascertain if there was any negligence.”
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