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South African bodybuilder dies while attempting back-flip

Sifiso Lungelo Thabete broke his neck while attempting a back-flip during a bodybuilding championship in South Africa

Updated on: Aug 11, 2017 4:42 PM IST
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A South African bodybuilding champion lost his life after a botched backflip during a competition over the weekend.

Instagram/ sifisolungelo
Instagram/ sifisolungelo

In a video that has gone viral on social media, Sifiso Lungelo Thabete, former IFBB Junior World Champion in the up to 75kg category, can be seen flexing his muscles as he walks towards the centre of the mat at a bodybuilding competition on Saturday in South Africa.

Amidst loud cheering, Thabete tries attempting the back-flip, loses his grip and falls to the ground breaking his neck. He stayed motionless on the ground before officials ran to assist him.

“The bodybuilding community was shocked and saddened by the tragic news of the death of Sifiso Lungelo Thabete, a bodybuilder from Umlazi in KwaZulu-Natal, at the weekend,” South Africa’s bodybuilding magazine Muscle Evolution wrote on its website.

The magazine said he had “impressed the crowd and the judges with unbelievable muscle size and maturity beyond his age’ in his most recent competition”.

The fatal accident has caused much shock on the internet.

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