A bodybuilder has died after suffering a heart attack during a tough training session.
José Mateus Correia Silva, 28, was exercising with friends at a gym in Aguas Claras, near the Brazilian capital, Brasilia, when he fell ill.
A firefighter friend he was with rushed him to a nearby fire station, but efforts to revive him that lasted more than an hour were unsuccessful.
José’s heartbroken brother Tiago paid tribute to him in an emotional social media post, writing alongside a photo of the tragic athlete: “You were incredible. Thank you for so much. I love you.’
Insisting that his brother was “in good shape” and had no health problems that he was aware of in an interview with local media, he added: “Heaven has gained an angel.” José was a very loved man.
The deceased had competed, finishing ninth in the men’s bodybuilding up to 179 cm category at the 2018 South American Championships, after an eleventh place a year earlier in the men’s bodybuilding up to 100 kg category at the Arnold Classic South America.
Although he was not competing when he died, José stayed busy between training sessions preparing other bodybuilders for competitions and owned an online supplement store.
He also qualified as a lawyer and completed a nutrition course.
José Mateus Correia Silva was exercising with friends at a gym in Aguas Claras, near the Brazilian capital, Brasilia, when he fell ill.
The 28-year-old finished ninth in the men’s physique category up to 179 cm at the 2018 South American Championships.
José had qualified as a lawyer and had completed a nutrition course.
José’s funeral on Sunday, two days after his death last Friday, which went unreported in his homeland for several days, was attended by hundreds of mourners, including his widow to whom he became engaged in July 2020.
Tiago described it as “a beautiful farewell, full of family and friends,” and added: “There were so many people that there was no room for them inside the chapel.
‘We had an evangelical ceremony and another Catholic one. It was not a sad ceremony although there was a lot of emotion.”
It is still unclear why José fell ill during his training and what is behind his death.
Although some of his more recent social media posts have been removed from the internet since his death, older photos show him posing with medals he won while still competing.
A supporter who responded to the news of José’s shocking death wrote alongside the tribute written by his brother: ‘My deepest condolences to you and your family.
‘I hope God gives you the comfort you need to overcome the pain you feel right now.’
Another said: ‘What sad news! My heart is with you. May God comfort you and all your family.’
Others linked his untimely death to the use of anabolic steroids, although there is no evidence to suggest that José used drugs to enhance his body and performance.
Cilene Rodrigues de Brito wrote on Facebook after comparing photos of José when he was still competing with more recent snapshots of him: “It’s shocking how these bodybuilders age so quickly with the use of anabolic steroids.
‘He was 28 years old but he looked twice as old. How sad! I hope God takes care of him in a good place.”
Another added: “I don’t want to judge, but that man was 28 years old and had the face of a 50-year-old.”
‘We know that some anabolic steroids age people, that’s a fact. Muscle mass is gained but many other things are lost.
José’s heartbroken brother Tiago paid tribute to him in an emotional social media post.
Tiago insisted that his brother is “in good shape” and does not have any health problems
José was the founder of food supplement stores, a trainer for athletes and a prominent figure in the world of bodybuilding.
‘I also lost a young friend, the same age as José.
“He didn’t drink or take drugs and hardly trained. But he started using a multivitamin drug called Potenay to stimulate his muscles and improve his performance during training.
“One day he decided to drink caffeine and unfortunately he had a heart attack.”
José’s death is the latest in a series of high-profile tragedies involving bodybuilders.
In September, a teenage bodybuilder with a “bright future” ahead of him was found dead in his home in Brazil.
Matheus Pavlak, 19, had transformed his body in just five years after practicing this exhausting sport to overcome his obesity.
The police officer’s son was a regular competitor in the southern Brazilian state of Santa Catarina where he lived and last year won an under-23 contest to become Mr Blumenau in his hometown of the same name.
In May of this year he finished fourth and sixth in other regional competitions.
He was found dead on September 1 at his home after suffering a heart attack.
In May, a Majorcan bodybuilder who survived cancer and life-threatening peritonitis died at age 50.
Xisco Serra’s premature death was locally attributed at the time to natural causes after suffering stomach problems.
This sports science graduate, who started lifting weights at the age of 16, began competing three decades ago and participated in around 90 competitions.
His most notable wins on the international stage include Mr World IBFA in Rome in 2011 and Mr Universe IBFA in the 40+ category in 2014, the same year he was voted Overall Musclebeach Champion after competing in Venice, California.
He was still competing last year when he was crowned champion of a competition held in Tenerife.
Older photos on social media of José show him posing with medals he won while still competing.
José’s death is the latest in a series of high-profile tragedies involving bodybuilders.
In April, a Brazilian bodybuilder and fitness instructor died at age 29 after losing his battle with Covid.
Jonas Filho, known as Jonas Big, had left his 10,400 Instagram followers worried after posting photos of him connected to a respirator in a hospital in the city of Fortaleza shortly after his admission.
He wrote alongside the snapshots: “Only God knows the pain and tears of the clown.”
In a previous post, referring to his humble upbringing in the state of Ceará, in northeastern Brazil, he wrote alongside a photo of himself in the gym during a workout: “Whoever comes from a poor family has only one option and one opportunity.” . The option to work to have the opportunity to turn the game around. And I don’t think about anything else.’
Days before his death it was learned that a Portuguese bodybuilder had died at the age of 46 in Cologne, Germany.
Marco Luis, better known by his nickname Monster or Monster in his native language, worked as an online coach and motivator.
His wife Mariza Luis, born in Canada, confirmed the sad news and said he was “in his ‘paradise’ doing what he loved.”
Marco Luis, a native of the volcanic island of Terceira in the Azores archipelago, had almost 25,000 followers on Instagram and his own YouTube channel alone.
He called bodybuilding “his life and passion” and had in the past referred to himself online as “the most shredded bodybuilder of all time.”