Arlindo de Souza, a famous Brazilian bodybuilder, has reportedly died at the age of 55 after suffering health complications.
De Souza, who drew widespread fame for injecting mineral oil and alcohol into his arms to create their hulking muscles, is said to have passed away on Tuesday in the Brazilian city of Recife, according to Globo.
De Souza, who was dubbed the ‘Brazilian Popeye’ thanks to his bulky physique, did after suffering renal failure complications, which had hospitalized him since December.
An official death certificate stating his cause of death hasn’t yet been issued.
One of De Souza’s kidneys first shut down before his second failed around Christmas, Denis Gomes de Luna, his nephew, told the Brazilian outlet.
Fluid is then said to have built up in de Souza’s lungs, and he went into cardiac arrest before doctors could even perform haemodialysis, a life-saving treatment for kidney failure.
Arlindo de Souza, a famous Brazilian bodybuilder, has reportedly died at the age of 55
De Souza is said to have passed away after suffering complications from renal failure
The weightlifter gained notoriety for his burly arms, which made headlines when his biceps measured a staggering 29 inches round.
De Souza reportedly used a cocktail of oil and alcohol to inflate his muscles, injecting the concoction to increase the size of his arms.
However, despite their brawny appearance, the mixture is not said to have had any impact on the strength of the muscles.
Instead, doctors heavily cautioned against the technique, branding it dangerous for the health risks it poses.
Around 10 years ago, de Souza revealed that he had lost a friend – named Paulinho – who had also participated in the hazardous methods.
‘I felt his death a lot,’ he said at the time, via The Sun.
‘He took it, I took it, but he went beyond the limit. I advise no-one to take this oil.
‘I’ve stopped taking it, and other things as well, but there is always that will to start again. But I’m managing to control myself, to this day.’
He gained notoriety for injecting mineral oil and alcohol into his arms for their hulking effect
The Brazilian made headlines when his biceps measured a staggering 29 inches round
De Souza was first introduced to the method by an acquaintance at the gym, who offered him the cocktail.
He ultimately stopped taking the injections, and instead dedicated himself to warning younger athletes of their dangers.
De Souza first shot to fame in the 2000s when he began to appear on television shows to show off his Popeye-esque physique.
He had begun working out as a teenage alongside his brother, who lost his life during a mugging, his relatives said.
‘After losing his brother, he started focusing more on working out, joined some people from his neighborhood, and began injecting oil until he looked like that. Then he participated in several TV programs and gained some fame,’ his nephew said during his interview with Globo.
De Souza was unmarried and did not have any children at the time of his death. He is said to have lived with his mother, who ‘still doesn’t know about his death because she is very old and bedridden.’
