How the 23-year-old champion bodybuilder died after breaking his neck after trying to do his signature backflip while showing off

A WORLD CHAMPION bodybuilder died after breaking his neck trying to perform his signature backflip.

Sifiso Thabethe was only 23 years old and had a promising career as a strongman when he tragically lost his life.

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A horrifying video showing the moment the South African star injured himself has resurfaced online following the tragedy in August 2017.

It shows the 75kg world champion had played in front of the crowd before a competition in Umlazi, south of Durban.

Dressed only in a black speedo and socks while showing off his pumped-up physique, he took to the mat.

He gestured to the crowd while raising his arms, then threw himself into the air in a stunt that would prove fatal.

Sifiso shot himself straight into the air at an incredible height – and then moved to rotate his body in a spinning somersault.

But he couldn’t turn around and instead hit his head on the mat.

He then hops and staggers forward onto his side before going limp in the video – which is too distressing to show in full.

Two coaches rushed to his aid as he lay almost motionless on the mat in front of the horrified crowd.

More paramedics then approach to revive the injured bodybuilder – they bend his legs and examine his neck.

Sifiso was taken to hospital – but on arrival he was pronounced dead by doctors.

It’s believed he slipped on the mat because of his socks – meaning he couldn’t perform his signature trick.

He had previously performed the trademark move just weeks earlier during his winning performance at the IFBB Muscle Mulisha Juniors Under-23 Grand Prix.

Bodybuilding magazines at the time hailed him as a “young man with a bright future” as he was tipped for size.

Its sad story is often shared as a cautionary tale.

And his Instagram page remains live, with many commenters continuing to pay tribute to him five years later.

Wayne Price told South Africa’s News24 that the flip was Sifiso’s “signature” move.

He said: “We suspect because he was wearing socks this time that he slipped or didn’t get enough momentum and landed horribly on his head.”