Champion powerlifter Yashtika Acharya, 17, crushed to death by her own 270kg barbell which fell on her neck in gym
A SEVENTEEN-year-old champion powerlifter was crushed to death by her own 270kg barbell which snapped her neck in a gym.
Yashtika Acharya, from Rajasthan, western India, was a promising young athlete who had won gold in the Junior National Games.
Harrowing footage of the incident – too graphic to show – captured the weightlifter training at her usual gym when tragedy struck on Tuesday.
The girl was attempting a huge squat lift – 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 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.
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.”
Powerlifting competitors perform three lifts: the squat, bench press, and deadlift.
Within each category, athletes have three attempts at lifting the maximum weight.