Queensland Law Society says teenager's gym death was 'extremely preventable'

The Queensland Law Society has labelled the death of a teenager in a Brisbane gym “extremely preventable” and has called for a Coronial inquest to determine whether the State’s fitness facilities are following correct procedures.

Ben Shaw, aged 15, died at the weekend after a heavy barbell fell on his throat while he was bench pressing in the Pine Rivers PCYC gym in Brisbane’s north on Tuesday evening.

It is believed he was bench pressing more than 30kg above his body weight when the bar fell about 7.30pm. It was about 20 minutes before anyone noticed.

He was taken to hospital in a critical condition and placed on life support but died on Saturday.

An investigation is currently underway, headed by Worksafe Queensland with the assistance of Queensland Police.

Queensland Law Society President Christine Smyth said Ben’s death was a tragedy and should be a “warning sign” to all gyms.

Smyth told The Courier-Mail “all gyms should take this as a warning sign and increase and improve supervision.

“Questions do need to be asked as to how this has occurred and how to prevent it, while keeping gyms accessible.

“If necessary, (a Coroner) will make any recommendations into criminal fault.”

The Pine Rivers PCYC gym, which is not a 24/7 facility, remains closed.

Images: Ben Shaw (top) and the gym at Pine Rivers PCYC (below). Images courtesy of Facebook.

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