Australian teen dies after becoming trapped under gym equipment

  • 01/10/2017
Ben Shaw.
Ben Shaw. Photo credit: 7 News

An Australian teenager who was badly injured after being crushed by weightlifting equipment has died in hospital.

Fifteen-year-old Ben Shaw was working out alone at the PCYC Pine Rivers gym in Brisbane, when he reportedly became pinned under a 98kg weightlifting bar for at least half an hour.

He weighed just 65kg and didn't have a spotter while lifting the weight.

Ben was rushed to hospital and placed on life support, but died on Saturday, according to a post on his football club's Facebook page.

The club's president passed on their condolences to his family and said he had been able to "leave a legacy".

"Yesterday afternoon they lost their beautiful Ben and [he's] been able to leave a legacy by donating his tissue and organs to enable recipients have their lives saved and changed forever as a result," the post said.

An investigation into the incident has been launched by Worksafe, while the gym has been closed until further notice, according to 7 News.

The gym's online regulations say no one under 16 can work out without supervision.

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