Man dies of heart attack during CrossFit workout in São Paulo

A 39-year-old man collapsed during a CrossFit workout in Araras, in São Paulo state, and was taken alive to Santa Casa de Araras in cardiorespiratory arrest before his death was reported. He was identified as Alex Aparecido Alexandrino.

The incident happened in the Jardim Santo André neighborhood on Monday, April 27, 2026. Samu was called to the gym, and Alexandrino was moved for medical care at Santa Casa de Araras, where he remained under treatment before he died.

The episode lands in a familiar and uncomfortable place for CrossFit gyms: the gap between intense training and emergency readiness. Exercise-related sudden cardiac arrest is rare, but medical literature says it can happen during or immediately after hard exertion, especially when underlying heart disease is present. That distinction matters in a community built around high effort, timed efforts, and going red-line, because rarity does not mean zero risk.

CrossFit itself has recently highlighted safety as part of its competition structure, including a Safety Advisory Board and preparticipation medical evaluations. The company also presents safety and getting-started resources for affiliates and athletes, a reminder that warm-ups, scaling, and coaching cues are only part of the safety picture. The other part is whether a box has a clear plan for calling emergency services fast, recognizing distress early, and stopping a session before a small warning sign becomes a crisis.

For athletes, that means paying attention to symptoms that should not be pushed through: chest pain, unusual shortness of breath, dizziness, fainting, or a pounding heartbeat that feels out of rhythm. For owners and coaches, it means reviewing who is screened before hard training, whether new members are asked about medical history, and whether staff can act immediately if someone goes down.

CrossFit gyms sell intensity, but they also depend on trust. Alexandrino’s death is a stark reminder that the safest affiliates are the ones that prepare for the worst while still coaching the work in front of them.