Florianópolis Gym Member, 50, Dies During Workout as Police Classify Death as Natural

Overview

• Helizabete Pinheiro collapsed around 7:50 p.m. Tuesday at the Centro de Treinamento Engenharia do Corpo Ingleses in Ingleses do Rio Vermelho.
• Emergency crews, including an on-site doctor and firefighters, performed CPR and used a defibrillator, but her death was confirmed at the scene.
• The Civil Police reported no signs of crime and said the case is a natural death, so no investigation will be opened.
• The gym issued a public condolence, briefly closed the unit, and reopened on Wednesday afternoon; a funeral was held the same day in Florianópolis.
• The incident was the third sudden medical collapse linked to exercise in Santa Catarina this week, and a cardiologist urged pre-exercise cardiac evaluations and attention to warning symptoms such as chest pain, palpitations, dizziness, fainting, shortness of breath, and disproportionate fatigue.