A famous Belarusian nicknamed the world’s ‘most monstrous bodybuilder’ has died at the age of 36.
Illia ‘Golem’ Yefimchyk ate seven times a day and consumed 16,500 calories, including 108 pieces of sushi and nearly 6lbs of steak.
Also known as the ‘The Mutant’ and the ‘340lbs beast’, Yefimchyk stood 6ft 1in tall and boasted a 61in chest and 25in biceps.
The powerlifter was known for bench-pressing 600lbs and deadlifting and squatting 700lbs weights.
While not competing professionally, he became iconic on social media with more than 300,000 Instagram followers as fans tuned in to see him as push the boundaries of human capability.
When he was younger, he weighed 11 stone (154lbs) and could not do a single push up before his remarkable transformation.
He previously said: ‘My transformation is a result of years of hard training and discipline, paired with an understanding of exercise physiology and nutrition.’
‘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.’
He suffered a heart attack at home on September 6 and was flown to hospital by a helicopter.
His wife Anna performed chest compressions while waiting for the ambulance.
’I prayed all this time, hoping that Illia would recover,’ she told Belarusian portal Onliner.
‘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 was encouraged by a schoolteacher to start bodybuilding, and had been inspired by the physiques of Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone.
His target before he died was to reach 380lbs (27 stone).
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.
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