A Belarusian man dubbed the world’s ‘most monstrous bodybuilder’ has reportedly died of a heart attack aged just 36.
Illia ‘Golem’ Yefimchyk ate seven times a day and consumed 16,500 calories, including 108 pieces of sushi and 2.5 kilograms of steak.
Known as the ‘340lbs beast’ and also The Mutant, he stood 6ft 1 inch tall and boasted a 61-inch chest and 25-inch biceps.
He reportedly suffered a heart attack at home on September 6, while his wife Anna performed chest compressions as she waited for the ambulance.
The bodybuilder was flown to hospital by helicopter.
Illia ‘Golem’ Yefimchyk, known as The Mutant, has died aged 36 following a reported heart attack
He started his bodybuilding journey as a teenager with a desire to follow in the footsteps of the greats
‘I prayed all this time, hoping that Illia would recover,’ Anna told Belarusian local media.
‘I spent every day by his side, hoping, and his heart started beating again for two days, but the doctor gave me the terrible news that his brain had died.’
She said after his death: ‘I thank everyone for their condolences. It’s very heartwarming to realise that I am not left alone in this world, and so many people have offered me help and support.’
Russian newspaper Kommersant reported: ‘On September 6, the athlete suffered a heart attack and fell into a coma.’
His death was confirmed on September 11.
Yefimchyk impressively achieved lifts of 600-pound bench press, 700-pound deadlifts, and 700-pound squats.
While not competing professionally, he became iconic on social media with more than 300,000 Instagram followers with fans seeing him as pushing the boundaries of human capability.
The Belarusian said he always wanted to have a chest and biceps like Arnold Schwarzenegger
He lived in Belarus, followed by the Czech Republic, US and Dubai
At school in Belarus, he reportedly weighed 70kg, and could not do a single push up.
‘My transformation is a result of years of hard training and discipline, paired with an understanding of exercise physiology and nutrition,’ he had said.
‘My mission is to instil a work ethic in people so they can overcome and surmount their fears while acting confidently towards the betterment of themselves and those around them.’
Speaking to Muscular Development in 2020 he said he started his bodybuilding journey as a teenager with a desire to follow in the footsteps of the greats.
‘All I knew was that I wanted to have a chest and biceps like Arnold Schwarzenegger,’ he said.
His target before he died was to reach 380lbs.
He lived in Belarus, followed by the Czech Republic, US and Dubai.
He is not the first bodybuilder to die young recently, and his demise is likely to raise questions about the health risks linked to bodybuilding.
Others are Brazil’s Antonion Souza, 26, and Britain’s bodybuilder Neil Currey, 34.