David Goldberg, the CEO of SurveyMonkey, recently died of head trauma while working out in a gym. The incident has raised safety concerns over gym equipment in the U.S.
The 47-year-old Goldberg was on holiday at a private villa in Mexico. Goldberg is believed to have lost his balance while exercising on the treadmill and hit his head resulting in loss of blood and head trauma. Goldberg was rushed to a nearby hospital by his brother where he later died.
Treadmills are one of the most common gym equipment used by millions of gym goers across the world. While many people have sustained accidents during their workouts on treadmills, some people like Goldberg have also lost their lives after sustaining an injury due to a treadmill.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission reveals that from 2003 to 2012 about 30 fatalities have been reported while exercising on a treadmill. In 2014, about 24,400 people were admitted to emergency departments due to injuries sustained from treadmills. The figure accounts for 39 percent of all injuries caused by exercise equipment.
Experts believe that working out on a treadmill is not very dangerous. However, most of the accidents occur while people try to step on or off from a moving treadmill.
On May 25, 2009, Mike Tyson's four-year-old daughter, Exodus, was found tangled unconscious with a treadmill cord. The boxer's daughter died the next day.
Treadmill remains one of the riskiest exercise equipment; however, the device also makes many people exercise and stay healthy.
"The risk of inactivity is about 100 times greater than the risks of activity," says Dr. Jordan Metzl, a sports-medicine physician for the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City.
Goldberg's death is being mourned in the Silicon Valley and at the same time his death has also raised concerns over the risk of exercise equipment such as treadmills.
Goldberg's death does not deter people from using treadmills but it encourages people to be extra vigilant while using such devices.
Photo: Casa Velas Hotel | Flickr
