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Bodybuilder dies after failed backflip attempt

A South African bodybuilder has died after a backflip attempt at a competition went horribly wrong.

Cameras were rolling and crowds were cheering when Sifiso Lungelo Thabete was trying to gee up the crowd with a backflip before the contest – a stunt he had successfully completed before.

Sisifo Lungelo Thabete prepares to do a backflip. Source: Twitter/Renzo_Grace_BJJ
Sisifo Lungelo Thabete prepares to do a backflip. Source: Twitter/Renzo_Grace_BJJ
Thabete landed on his head, breaking his neck. Source: Twitter/Renzo_Grace_BJJ
Thabete landed on his head, breaking his neck. Source: Twitter/Renzo_Grace_BJJ

But this time Thabete did not rotate far enough and hit the ground head-first and hard.

The weightlifter broke his neck on landing and later died from his injuries.

Stunned audience members stood silent before several people came running to assist.

South African bodybuilding magazine Muscle Evolution said the bodybuilding community was "shocked and saddened" by the death.

The bodybuilding community is
The bodybuilding community is

Thabete was an International Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness junior world champion in the up-to-75kg category.

Thabete had performed a similar stunt at a competition in July. Source: Instagram
Thabete had performed a similar stunt at a competition in July. Source: Instagram

He recently won an event at the IFBB Muscle Mulisha event, held in Johannesburg last month.

At that event he successfully performed a backflip as part of his routine.