A FORMER bodybuilding champion and dad-of-two has been found dead in his bed at the age of 48 after suffering a sudden illness.
Andrea Lorini was discovered lifeless at his home in Chiari, in the province of Brescia, in northern Italy, on Tuesday.
His mum, Nadia, raised the alarm after finding him unresponsive, but paramedics were unable to revive him, and he was pronounced dead at the scene.
Lorini was a well-known figure in the local fitness community, working as a gym instructor and competing at a high level in bodybuilding.
Before the Covid pandemic, he was among Italy’s strongest competitors, earning third-place finishes at national IFBB championships in the 90kg category in both 2017 and 2019.
Away from competition, Lorini helped manage a gym in the nearby town of Coccaglio and had previously worked as an insurance agent.
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His imposing physique and dedication to weightlifting earned him the nickname “the Giant” in his hometown.
News of his sudden death spread quickly on social media, sparking an outpouring of tributes from fellow athletes and local residents.
The mayor of Chiari paid tribute to Lorini, saying: “We feel deep pain over the loss of such a young father, loved by the community and by countless friends who today mourn his passing.”
Lorini’s family reportedly declined an autopsy, stating that his premature death was caused by a sudden illness leading to cardiac arrest.
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He leaves behind two children. His funeral was scheduled to be held in Chiari on Thursday.
It comes after a Brazilian bodybuilder nicknamed the real-life Popeye died in a tragic turn of events.
Arlindo de Souza, 55, who was once famed for having the biggest arms in Brazil, had previously said he achieved his extreme look through oil injections.
The bodybuilder died from kidney-related complications after being hospitalised over the Christmas period.
De Souza attracted worldwide attention when his biceps reportedly measured an astonishing 29 inches in circumference.
At the time, it was reported that his enlarged muscles were the result of a self-injected mixture of mineral oil and alcohol, commonly referred to as synthol.
Despite their size, the muscles did not increase his physical strength.
His family confirmed his death on Tuesday. Speaking to local media, de Souza’s niece said one of his kidneys failed during the Christmas week.
Doctors had previously warned de Souza about the potential consequences of his frequent injecting, which included abscesses that could end in amputations as well as death.
