Shocking moment as weightlifter collapsed on stage after the strain of lifting 352 pounds.
The 27-year-old Welsh athlete Joshua Parry left viewers in shock after falling to the ground when attempting to lift 352 pounds. He was competing in his first Commonwealth Games.
With the bar resting by Parry’s windpipe and the lifting belt tight around his waist, he fell to the ground in a violent fashion.
Immediately after, his legs buckled and he collapsed on his back due to a lack of oxygen.
Medics rushed to his aide as they assisted him with his breathing, with a protective curtain shielding viewers from Parry.
Former two-time Commonwealth Games weightlifting champ Michaela Breeze was on commentary duty for the BBC and reassured fans he would be fine. Breeze said:
“He’s OK, he’s OK … well, he’s not OK clearly. He’s all right, undo his belt, get his legs in the air, the docs there,”
“OK, so what’s happened quite simply is not getting the oxygen in. He stood up, makes it really hard to breathe when you’ve got the bar sitting heavy on the windpipe.
“You can see his body buckling before he even attempted the dip. … He will be absolutely fine. We don’t need a paramedic on the stage, that’s a little bit [over the top].”
Parry failed to recover in time for his second lift and after several minutes behind a protective curtain, Parry emerged and managed to walk off unassisted to applause from those in attendance.
Watch the video below as Joshua Parry collapsed after his first lift.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hlJDtyQ8JXk
Here is another video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l_qdOOIIc2g
It’s the second scary incident in three days that has left bystanders rushing to an athlete’s aid. On Friday, weightlifter Francois Etoundi tore his bicep when attempting a lift.
The men’s 207-pound final was won by Papua New Guinea’s Steven Kari, who successfully defended the title he won in Glasgow four years ago.
