A 19-year-old woman in Brasilia, Brazil, suffered serious injuries after a 180kg barbell allegedly came loose and crushed her knees during a workout on April 1.
The victim, identified as Júlia Stefany Cotrim Beserra, sustained fractures to both knees, leaving her unable to walk for several months following the incident.
According to local reports, Beserra had been regularly training with weights since 2024 and was experienced in exercises involving heavy loads, including pelvic lifts with 180kg.
However, during the session, the safety belt supporting the weight reportedly snapped, causing the barbell to suddenly shift and pin her legs to the ground.
CCTV footage circulating online shows other gym users rushing to assist after hearing her screams, while witnesses said she fainted due to severe pain before emergency help arrived.
She was later admitted to Hospital de Base, where she underwent surgery on April 14.
Doctors have reportedly advised that she will be unable to walk for months and must avoid physical activity for at least one year as she recovers from her injuries.
In her account, Beserra said she had previously used the same equipment and weight without issues, and believes the accident may have been caused by a failure in the belt mechanism.
Authorities are currently investigating the incident to determine whether equipment failure or negligence was involved.
The gym has stated that it is cooperating fully with the investigation and will provide support to the victim, while urging the public not to speculate on the cause of the accident.
