A bodybuilder from Brazil known as the real-life Popeye passed away at the age of 55 this week. Arlindo de Souza, famous for his 29-inch biceps, reportedly died from multiple organ failure. He gained his massive muscles by injecting a dangerous mixture of mineral oil and alcohol called synthol, causing his muscles to inflate without enhancing strength.
Arlindo’s friend, Pulinho, also injected synthol and tragically died, prompting Arlindo to warn against its use. Despite his personal experience, he admitted struggling with the desire to resume synthol injections but managed to resist.
Other bodybuilders, like Kirill Tereshin, also fell into the synthol trap, with Kirill facing the possibility of double amputation after years of injecting synthol into his arms. Despite warnings from doctors about potential amputation risks, Kirill continued his use of synthol, leading to severe consequences.
Similarly, Gregg Valentino, a bodybuilding figure, resorted to synthol injections to achieve massive biceps, but faced a life-threatening situation when his arm developed an abscess due to synthol injection misuse. The ensuing infection caused his bicep to burst, requiring surgery to drain the synthol and restore his arm to a more natural appearance.
Valdir Segato, another Brazilian bodybuilder, also met a tragic end at the age of 55 due to a heart attack, linked to his use of synthol injections for body enhancement. Despite warnings from doctors, Valdir continued using synthol to achieve extreme aesthetics, ultimately leading to his untimely death.
These cases serve as cautionary tales about the dangers of using synthol for muscle enhancement, highlighting the severe health risks associated with such practices.