Woman, 22, Collapses and Dies at Gym While Doing Barbell Squats

Mar. 15, 2025

A 22-year-old woman collapsed while lifting a barbell at her local gym and was pronounced dead from what paramedics called a lack of oxygen.Ariatna Lizeth Mata Esparza was working out in her local gym in Torreón, Mexico, when she suddenly collapsed while doing barbell squats, theDaily Mailreports.Jam PressParamedics were unable to revive Esparza, who was pronounced dead at the scene, the outlet reports, with the cause of death being anoxemia — possibly due to overexertion.“Anoxemia refers toreduced oxygen availability,” theArchives of Clinical Neuropsychologyexplains. “The brain is more oxygen dependent than other body organs and medial temporal lobe and limbic structures are particularly vulnerable to brain damage.”Esparza also suffered from a stroke andhad blood clots, theDaily Mailreports.Ariatna Lizeth Mata Esparza, who died while working out at her local gym.Jam PressPassing out or feeling “lightheaded” during working out can be a commonplace occurrence, according to an article fromMass General Brigham.“When we’re exercising and we’re short of breath, which is normal, and we’re also very engaged in what we’re doing, we can sometimes neglect to really take good, deep breaths,” Caroline Schepker, DO, a sports medicine physiatrist who treats patients at Wentworth-Douglass Hospital said to Mass General Brigham.Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.“A lot of us tend to use the wrong muscles to take deep breaths. Or we may hold our breath during periods of intense exertion.”However, there are underlying issues that can cause lightheadedness, Schepker said.These include cardiovascular issues, low blood sugar, neurological conditions,working out in a hot environment, neurological conditions, or other underlying — and perhaps, undiagnosed — infections.If you have an episode of lightheadedness during a workout, Schepker said it’s important to speak to your primary care physician.

A 22-year-old woman collapsed while lifting a barbell at her local gym and was pronounced dead from what paramedics called a lack of oxygen.

Ariatna Lizeth Mata Esparza was working out in her local gym in Torreón, Mexico, when she suddenly collapsed while doing barbell squats, theDaily Mailreports.

Jam Press

Paramedics were unable to revive Esparza, who was pronounced dead at the scene, the outlet reports, with the cause of death being anoxemia — possibly due to overexertion.

“Anoxemia refers toreduced oxygen availability,” theArchives of Clinical Neuropsychologyexplains. “The brain is more oxygen dependent than other body organs and medial temporal lobe and limbic structures are particularly vulnerable to brain damage.”

Esparza also suffered from a stroke andhad blood clots, theDaily Mailreports.

Ariatna Lizeth Mata Esparza, who died while working out at her local gym.Jam Press

Passing out or feeling “lightheaded” during working out can be a commonplace occurrence, according to an article fromMass General Brigham.

“When we’re exercising and we’re short of breath, which is normal, and we’re also very engaged in what we’re doing, we can sometimes neglect to really take good, deep breaths,” Caroline Schepker, DO, a sports medicine physiatrist who treats patients at Wentworth-Douglass Hospital said to Mass General Brigham.

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

“A lot of us tend to use the wrong muscles to take deep breaths. Or we may hold our breath during periods of intense exertion.”

However, there are underlying issues that can cause lightheadedness, Schepker said.

These include cardiovascular issues, low blood sugar, neurological conditions,working out in a hot environment, neurological conditions, or other underlying — and perhaps, undiagnosed — infections.

If you have an episode of lightheadedness during a workout, Schepker said it’s important to speak to your primary care physician.

source: people.com