Brazil's 'Popeye' Dies at 55 After December Hospitalization in Recife

Overview

• Arlindo de Souza died in the early hours of January 13 at Hospital Otávio de Freitas in Recife following a December admission.
• Family members say he was admitted with renal problems that progressed to kidney failure, fluid in the lungs and a cardiac arrest, with the official cause still pending on the death certificate.
• He lived in Olinda’s Águas Compridas and was to be buried at the neighborhood cemetery, according to relatives.
• De Souza gained national attention for dramatically enlarged arms attributed to injected mineral oil and for long‑term anabolic use he discussed in interviews, appearing on programs such as Silvio Santos and SuperPop.
• Specialists warn that oil injections can lead to infections, tissue loss, thrombosis, embolism and even amputations, while medical societies caution against non‑medical anabolic use and note the 2023 CFM ban on prescribing androgens for aesthetic muscle gain.