Justyn Vicky died when a barbell broke his neck
On July 15, fitness influencer and bodybuilder, Justyn Vicky, who is immensely popular on social media died due to a gym accident. The 33-year-old was killed when a barbell fell on his neck when he was trying to squat-press with 210 kgs, the Daily Mail reported. The ill-fated incident is said to have happened at The Paradise Gym in Sanur, Bali.
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What happened exactly?
As per Bali Discovery, the fitness influencer, "fell forward, cascading the weight bar off his shoulders and snapping his neck and head forward." The footage of the moment, which many media outlets claim to have seen, shows his neck snapping forward as the accident happened.
"He was a beacon of inspiration"
Calling him a source of inspiration, The Paradise Bali posted on Instagram: Justyn was more than just a fitness expert; he was a beacon of inspiration, motivation, and unwavering support. His infectious energy and genuine passion for helping others transform their lives touched us deeply. Through countless workouts, words of encouragement, and compassionate guidance, he became an irreplaceable part of our fitness journeys and our gym family.
Every session with Justyn felt like much more than just exercise. He created a nurturing environment where we felt safe to challenge ourselves, both physically and mentally. His belief in our potential pushed us beyond our limits, empowering us to discover newfound strength and resilience within ourselves.
There was one spotter with Justyn
As Justyn Vicky was trying to squat press with 210 kilos barbell, there was one spotter behind him. "Only supported by a single “spotter” standing behind, Vicky failed to complete the lift and fell forward, cascading the weight bar off his shoulders and snapping his neck and head forward," the Bali Discovery reported.
Who are spotters?
Spotters or spot boys are an important part of the workout. Every gym goer should know about this. Spotting is the act of lending help or supporting another person during an exercise. These people help the person to lift or push heavy weights. They assist the person so that unfortunate events, like accidents, can be avoided.
Never hesitate to ask for spotting
Spotting is extremely important when one is doing bench presses, barbell squats, skull crushers, and military presses. One does not need a spotter for every exercise. If you don't have a spotter around, try not to engage in heavy lifting and instead lift lighter weights. "If you don’t have a spotter available, consider using lighter weights or performing exercises that don’t require a spotter. You can also use safety equipment like power racks or Smith machines, which have safety bars to catch the weight if you can’t lift it. Additionally, you can ask someone nearby to spot you, but make sure they are experienced and knowledgeable in spotting techniques," Fittr says on its website.