Bodybuilder Valdir Segato dubbed as the 'Brazilian Hulk' dies at 55
Bodybuilder Valdir Segato, dubbed the ‘Brazilian Hulk,’ has died at the age of 55. The TikTok star had reportedly been injecting himself with Synthol for years.
Valdir, who had become a social media star over the past few years, died in Ribeirao Preto on his 55th birthday. For years, he is said to have injected himself with potentially life-threatening oil to fashion his 23-inch biceps.
The Sao Paulo native had previously told the Daily Mail that he was inspired by Arnold Schwarzenegger’s physique and that of the Marvel character, The Hulk.
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Valdir Segato was a Brazilian bodybuilder and TikTok star with 1.7 million followers. His username on the platform was ‘userValdir Synthol Oficial’
The star gained popularity for his inflated biceps, chest and trapezius muscles on social media. He had created several TikToks showing off his unique physique.
As per the Daily Mail, Valdir had been using the potentially life-threatening Synthol injections for many years.
He was warned that he ran the risk of a stroke and infections but was still determined to inflate his biceps, pectorals and other muscles.
A study on ‘The usage of Synthol in body building’ on Europe PubMed Central states that: ‘The side effects of Synthol are manifold and they can also cause a damage of nerves, oil embolic of the pulmonary, occlusion of the pulmonary artery, myocardial infarction, cerebral stroke and infectious complications.’
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The ‘Brazilian Hulk’ was warned he would face amputation
Six years ago, the body transformation enthusiast was warned he could face amputation. He also ran the risk of facing nerve damage and muscle disfigurement due to the Synthol injections.
“They call me Hulk, Schwarzenegger and He-Man all the time, and I like that. I’ve doubled my biceps but I still want to be bigger,” he said in 2016, according to the Daily Mail.
In the past few years, Valdir had inflated his biceps to 23 inches and had come to be known as “the monster” in the neighbourhood. He was proud of the title.
The local media has reported that by the time of his death, Valdir had very few friends or visitors. The Brazilian Hulk was living an isolated life despite his internet fame.
A man named Moisés da Conceição da Silva said that Valdir rented a property built at the back of his family’s house in Ribeirao Preto for over 15 years.
The local also said that on the day of his death, Valdir had asked Moisés’ mother for help. The bodybuilder had been complaining about shortness of breath.
“It was around 6:00 am, more or less. He came crawling through the back house and came to the front. Then he knocked on my mother’s window, knocked, knocked, then she woke up and he said ‘help me, help me because I’m dying,” the local said as per Brazil’s Globo news.
“They put him in the car and then the neighbour went to the UPA. He arrived at the UPA, and he fell at the reception, having a heart attack. I think he had a heart attack”, Moisés said.
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