This is the heartstopping moment a huge weightlifting bar comes crashing down on a woman’s neck, sending her careering forward during a crosslifting session.
The dramatic video of the failed weightlifting attempt continues to fuel controversy around the Crossfit exercise movement – once used only by police and the military – that is now popular among millions of men and women around the world.
In the clip, published on LiveLeak, the woman lifts the bar but buckles under the weight as the bar slip from her hands and onto her neck. She then falls forward with her head caught beneath the bar as she hits the ground.
Bit off more than she could chew: This woman seems to have a hold of this heavily loaded weight bar but just seconds later everything comes crashing down
Heartstopping moment: As her arms give way, the bar crashes onto her neck and she topples forward to dramatic fashion
It is unknown where in the world the accident occurred or the extent of the woman’s injuries.
The CrossFit exercise phenomenon pioneered by coach Greg Glassman is a system of exercises, including Olympic-style weightlifting, rope-climbing and tyre-flipping, created 13 years ago and now used by thousands of gyms worldwide.
The regime has sparked outrage in recent months after Lea-Ann Ellison, a 35-year-old mother from Los Angeles, posted pictures of herself weight-lifting at eight months pregnant.
She suffered a barrage of abuse online after posting the pictures, declaring she wanted to be a ‘Hot Mom,’ exercising up until three days before the birth of her son on November 7.
At the ready: At first the woman confidently lifts the bar as supervisors watch on
Smashes neck: The bar crashes on to her neck as she struggles under the weight. Weightlifting is incorporated into the Crossfit exercise regime – once used by the police and military – which continues to grow in popularity around the world
While some appeared to support her decision in September – including several people who claimed to be doctors – others were horrified.
‘This is actually sickening,’ wrote Amanda Cinq-Mars. ‘I hope pregnant [women] around the world do not do this kind of cr**.
‘I am a Crossfit enthusiast but I do not recommend this at all. Doctors always strongly suggest to not lift heavy because you can sever your placenta and cause major damage an early labour and miscarriage… Posting this picture goes people the wrong message that this is okay when it’s not!’
Another, Josh Giannapolous, wrote: ‘Cross fit? This goes way beyond a way of life, and right into an obsession.
Trapped: The woman falls forward with her head trapped under the bar as it crashes to the ground