Arlindo de Souza, the Brazilian bodybuilder known around the world as the “Brazilian Popeye,” has died at the age of 55. His death has shocked fans and fitness followers who remember him for his huge arms and unusual body changes. According to Globo, a leading Brazilian news outlet, De Souza passed away on Tuesday in Recife, Brazil, after facing serious health problems for weeks.De Souza had been in the hospital since December after his kidneys began to fail. Doctors tried to save him, but his condition got worse very fast. His family says one kidney stopped working first, and the second one failed days later, just before Christmas. Soon after that, fluid filled his lungs. He then suffered cardiac arrest before doctors could start haemodialysis, a treatment used to help patients with kidney failure. An official death certificate has not yet been released.De Souza, known for his massive arms that measured nearly 29 inches, became famous after admitting he injected mineral oil and alcohol into his muscles. The risky method made his arms look bigger than usual but did not make him stronger. Several doctors warned him many times that this practice was dangerous and could cause serious harm to his health.
Bodybuilder Arlindo de Souza’s risky past, family loss, and warning to young athletes
Arlindo de Souza’s fame began in the early 2000s when he appeared on Brazilian TV shows showing off his Popeye-like arms. He once said he learned about the injections from a man at his gym who offered him the oil mixture. Over time, De Souza stopped using the injections and began warning young athletes not to copy his mistakes.About ten years ago, De Souza shared the pain of losing his close friend Paulinho, who also used the same injections. Speaking to The Sun, De Souza said, “I felt his death a lot. He took it, I took it, but he went beyond the limit. I advise no-one to take this oil.” He added, “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.”Family pain shaped much of his life. As a teenager, De Souza began working out with his brother. His brother later died during a mugging, which deeply affected him. His nephew Denis Gomes de Luna told Globo, “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.”De Souza never married and had no children. He lived with his elderly mother, who remains unaware of his death due to her fragile health.Also Read: Jake Paul And Logan Paul Combined Net Worth: How YouTube’s Star Brothers Built A Multi-Million Dollar Fortune
