THIS is the harrowing moment a man was moments away from being crushed by a 145kg barbell.

CCTV footage shows the near death experience at a gym in the Chinese province of Guangdong.

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The man during an intense weightlifting gym session Credit: SWNS

He struggled to escape from the mighty barbell Credit: SWNS

Wearing a black tank-top and pink trousers, the man is seen attempting to bench press the bar.

Instead of setting a new personal record, he came dangerously close to being choked to death during his workout.

As he pushed the bar upwards, his muscular arms started to tremble – and eventually gave in to fatigue – while the barbell drops to his chest, sliding closer and closer to his throat.

At least two people are seen in the footage near the man, each not paying attention.

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Eventually, he managed to free himself Credit: SWNS

The man is seen in shock afterwards Credit: SWNS

One man on the weights bench next to him continued his workout as he wriggled for his life, while another man sat through the whole ordeal on his phone with earphones in. 

No one could hear his gasping cries for help.

In a last desperate move to escape death, the gymgoer spun on to his side and then his stomach frantically kicking his legs in the air.

He eventually wriggled free from underneath the heavy barbell, left in a state of shock.

In such incidents, the gym, as a service provider, is obligated to ensure its customers’ personal safety when using the facilities.

According to the Consumer Protection Law and other relevant laws and regulations, operators are responsible for the safety of the goods and services they provide.

Lack of proper supervision or warning signs and failure to provide necessary rescue equipment can drag such businesses to court.

This comes just months after a Brazilian man was killed instantly when a heavy barbell slipped out of his hands and crashed onto his chest.

Ronald Montenegro, 55, managed to free himself from the heavy weight.

Moments later he gets up – still in agony – before collapsing to the ground seconds later.

The museum manager was rushed to hospital – but doctors could not do anything to save the “much-loved” dad.