A bodybuilding competition in Telford, England, turned tragic on October 18 when Polish athlete Mateusz Chmura, 33, collapsed while competing in the Classic Bodybuilding Medium category at the PCA British Finals.
Medical personnel treated him at the venue before transporting him to a hospital, where he died despite efforts to save his life, according to organizers.
The Physical Culture Association (PCA) confirmed Chmura's death on October 19, according to reports published by Polish sports outlets.
The organization said emergency responders attended the scene and expressed condolences to his wife, family and friends. The cause of death has not been officially disclosed.
Event Suspended and Resumed
Competition organizers temporarily suspended the event while medical teams assisted Chmura.
According to SportoweFakty, organizers later consulted competitors and resumed the contest after he had been taken to the hospital, when his death had not yet been confirmed.
The PCA identified Chmura as a resident of Wakefield, England, and acknowledged the distressing circumstances surrounding the incident.
Its statement also recognized those who helped during the emergency and asked the public to respect the family's privacy.
"We announce with deep sadness the death of 33-year-old Mateusz Chmura from Wakefield.
On Sunday, October 18, Mateusz took part in the PCA British Finals at Telford International Centre, competing in the Classic Bodybuilding Medium category.
We extend our sincerest condolences to his wife, family, friends and everyone who knew and loved him," the Physical Culture Association said in a statement published on Instagram.
The organization also emphasized that the athlete had received immediate medical attention and encouraged people affected by the incident to seek support rather than cope alone.
"We are deeply saddened to announce that 33-year-old Mateusz Chmura has died.
We extend our deepest condolences to his wife, family, friends and everyone who knew and loved him.
We ask that the privacy of his loved ones be respected during this extremely difficult time.
What happened was deeply upsetting for everyone present, and it is completely normal to find it difficult to process.
Please do not struggle with this alone," the PCA said in a separate report published by Polsat Sport.
Chmura had entered competitive bodybuilding only recently.
According to reports by SportoweFakty and SE, he placed second at the PCA First Timers competition in Yorkshire on October 4, approximately two weeks before his death.
He would have turned 34 on October 19.
Wife Warns Against Unauthorized Fundraiser
In the days following his death, an online fundraising campaign appeared claiming to support his family.
His wife, Patrycja Chmura, publicly denied any involvement and warned that she had not authorized the collection.
"Please do not make any donations.
I am Mateusz's wife, and I feel I must make this statement because a fundraiser has appeared online suggesting that money is being collected for our family.
I want to make it clear that I have nothing to do with it.
I did not create it, I did not consent to its creation, and I did not authorize anyone to collect money.
I am genuinely concerned that this could be a scam.
Therefore, I beg you not to donate any money to this fundraiser," Patrycja Chmura said in a statement reported by Przegląd Sportowy and Onet.
She also said that any legitimate fundraising effort would be announced through her own account or another trusted channel.
Her warning followed concerns that the campaign's description contained information she disputed.
"I want to make it absolutely clear that I have nothing to do with this fundraiser.
I did not establish it, I did not give permission for it to be created, and I did not authorize anyone to collect money on behalf of me or my family.
Please, I beg you, do not donate any money to this fundraiser.
I would never want anyone to lose their hard-earned money while trying to help us during such a difficult time," she said in a separate statement published by Pudelek.
Patrycja Chmura thanked people who had sent condolences and messages of support following her husband's death.
She said she was struggling to respond to the messages while grieving and reiterated that any future official appeal would be communicated through a trusted source.
"I am going through something unimaginably painful, and right now I simply do not have the words or strength to say anything more," she said in a statement reported by Pudelek.
