Renowned Bodybuilder Known for Injecting Alcohol and Oil Passes Away at 55

A prominent Brazilian bodybuilder has allegedly passed away at 55 years old after facing serious health issues.

Arlindo de Souza, who gained notoriety for injecting mineral oil and alcohol into his arms to achieve an exaggerated muscular appearance, reportedly died on Tuesday in Recife, Brazil, according to Globo.

Known as the 'Brazilian Popeye' due to his strikingly large physique, de Souza had been battling kidney failure complications that had necessitated hospitalization since December.

As of now, an official death certificate outlining the exact cause of his death has not yet been released.

Denis Gomes de Luna, de Souza's nephew, revealed to a Brazilian news outlet that the bodybuilder's first kidney failed, followed shortly by the second around Christmas time.

Fluid accumulation in de Souza's lungs subsequently led to cardiac arrest just before doctors could administer the life-saving treatment of haemodialysis for his kidney condition.

The weightlifter was well-known for his impressive arms, which made headlines due to biceps measuring an astonishing 29 inches in circumference.

De Souza reportedly mixed oil and alcohol to artificially enlarge his muscles, administering the mixture to facilitate the expansion of his arms.

Approximately a decade ago, de Souza shared that he had lost a close friend named Paulinho, who had also employed these dangerous techniques.

At that time, he expressed deep sorrow about his friend's demise, stating, 'I felt his death a lot.'

He continued, 'He took it, I took it, but he went beyond the limit. I advise no one to take this oil.

'I have stopped taking it and doing other things as well, but I still often feel the urge to start again. However, I'm doing my best to control myself to this day.'

De Souza was introduced to this method by a gym acquaintance who offered him the risky cocktail to enhance his physique.

Eventually, he ceased the injections and focused on advising younger athletes against their perils.

De Souza initially rose to fame in the 2000s, appearing on television to showcase his Popeye-like physique.