Olinda Gym Death Treated as Accident as Experts Flag Risky Bench-Press Grip

Overview

• Security footage shows the free bar slipping during a bench press and striking Ronald Montenegro’s chest; he briefly stood, then collapsed, and was taken to UPA Rio Doce, where he died.
• Relatives say he arrived around 7:45 p.m. and the family was called about 15 minutes later, with death confirmed near 8:30 p.m.
• Police recorded the case as an accidental death and said the forensic report on the cause has not yet been finalized.
• The Cref-PE president said the video shows a “suicide grip” without the thumb around the bar, a riskier hold that may increase slippage but cannot be singled out as the cause.
• A thoracic surgeon described a likely blow to the chest’s “Zona de Ziedler,” and the gym says staff gave immediate aid and are first-aid trained, while the family disputes supervision and emergency readiness.