His dream was to become like the Incredible Hulk, but Brazilian bodybuilder Romario Dos Santos Alves instead found himself in danger of losing his life after he injected his arms with alcohol and oil.
Santos Alves, a resident of Caldas Novas, used a highly potent mixture called synthol in order to increase the size of his biceps to 25 inches. It may have given him the rock-like appearance he wanted, but the former bodyguard now faces serious issues with his health.
In an interview with the Daily Mail, Santos Alves said that his muscles became so swollen that children in their community would get frightened by the sight of him. He has even been called a "monster" or "beast" by locals.
"If you take it once there will definitely be a second time-it's addictive," Santos Alves stated.
Synthol is a solution made of 85 percent oil, 7.5 percent alcohol, and 7.5 percent lidocaine, a common local anesthetic.
Bodybuilders first used synthol to make their muscles look well developed, but after its side effects were revealed, they soon abandoned the use of the substance.
Health problems caused by synthol use include infections, nerve damage, stroke and blockage of the main lung artery. Various ulcers, cysts and oil-filled granulomas also form in the muscles.
Santos Alves added that his addiction to synthol has severely affected his personal life, especially his relationship with his wife Marisangela Marinho.
ROMARIO DOS SANTOS ALVES,A Brazilian Guy who want to be like HULK with injected Synthol,Oil & Alcohol inside His Bodypic.twitter.com/g65Sgc8IQO
- RIEFS SPRINGFIELDS (@Riefs68) May 4, 2015
The bodybuilder said that he lied about the potential health issues of synthol use to his wife and even tricked her into injecting the solution on him.
When she learned the truth, she threatened to leave if he again started using synthol or any similar substance.
"That was the hardest part of our life because I had depression and I was removed from my job because I tried to kill myself," he said.
Santos Alves recounted how he was hospitalized because the abuse on his body caused him constant pain. His kidneys also came close to failing due to the toxins in his body from the synthol injections.
"I remember the doctor told me that they would need to amputate both arms," Santos Alves said. "They said everything in there, all my muscles, were rock."
The doctors eventually decided against amputations and instead removed the synthol rocks that were formed in his arms.
Santos Alves said that after the ordeal, he chose to mend his ways and stop using any more drugs.
"I want other people to see the dangers, I could have died all because I wanted bigger muscles. It's just not worth it."
Photo: Steven Depolo | Flickr
