A Queensland man has been filmed dropping a 120kg barbell on his neck in what has been the second gym-related accident in a week.
The horrifying clip, which was caught on CCTV at Genesis gym at Morayfield, Brisbane, shows 28-year-old Jason Layt attempting a heavy lift without a spotter.
The bar suddenly falls from his grip and onto his chest, pinning the gym-goer down for 17 seconds, before it rolls onto his throat and he is forced to wrench his neck to one side in hopes of wriggling free.
Mr Layt was only freed once other members noticed he was in trouble.
The accident landed the 28-year-old in hospital with a neck brace for more than five hours as he admits the experience left him ‘shaking.’
‘It pays to have a spotter, you have to have one,’ he told the Courier Mail.
Genesis Morayfield owner, champion bodybuilder and former LNP politician Jason Woodforth, said if he was working on the gym floor 24/7 he would see these kind of accidents everyday.
Mr Layt was only freed once other members noticed he was in trouble (pictured right)
‘Mr Layt’s incident happened in the middle of the day so it just goes to show that even when people are around they can’t be watching you the whole time,’ he told Daily Mail Australia.
‘If you’ve got nothing left in the tank than rack it. When you’re doing deadlifts or squats you can always drop the bar but you don’t have that same luxury while bench pressing.
The bar suddenly falls from his grip and onto his chest, pinning the gym-goer down for 17 seconds, before it rolls onto his throat and he is forced to wrench his neck to one side in hopes of wriggling free
‘I’ve met an Australian Olympic lifter who has even run into trouble a few times. It can happen to anyone.
‘It’s not the gym’s responsibility to take care of you. Don’t try and challenge yourself if you can’t get that sixth or seventh rep.’
This is the second time a Queensland native has become trapped by gym equipment in as little as five days.
Ben Shaw, 15, is believed to have been stuck for up to 30 minutes at around 8:30am on Tuesday after dropping a piece of heavy shy equipment on his neck.
Staff at the Pine Rivers PCYC administered first aid to the boy before paramedics arrived and took him to Lady Cilento Hospital in a critical condition.
Friends of Ben say he was a regular at the gym and had been competing in junior weightlifting competitions across the state.
A 15-year-old Brisbane boy is in a critical condition after becoming trapped by gym equipment during a workout
The 15-year-old’s neck was reportedly pinned by equipment while he was working out
‘We are deeply saddened by this incident and are offering support to all PCYC Pine Rivers members and staff,’ PCYC Queensland chief Phil Schultz said.
‘We will also offer support to family and friends of the young man involved.’
He is currently on life support with his family by his side.