Tragedy as medical student, 21, found dead at university gym after using weight machine

A medical student who died at a was using a weight machine seconds before he was found , according to reports.

Mohammed Farraj's provisional cause of death was a traumatic head injury, sustained while he was in the gym, his has heard. The 21-year-old man is understood to have a sudden medical episode when he was using the weight machine at Sportspark, on the campus in Norwich.

Other fitness fanatics reportedly heard "a massive crash" after Mr Farraj experienced some loss of control on Wednesday October 16. Now, Mr Farraj's family have expressed their grief at his death. A cousin, who asked not to be named, said: "It was a tragic accident and it was not a fault of the machine, from all we have been told. He had no underlying health issues. ‘He was very fit and healthy, there was absolutely nothing wrong with him."

She said Mr Farraj, originally from Stoke-on-Trent, fell ill after he was using the gym’s "Smith machine", a large metal frame, which guides a barbell along a vertical track on which the user can opt to set safety "stop" catches.

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The "super smart" student's inquest has been opened and adjourned, and has heard he sustained a head injury. The coroner has requested information from the student's father, GP and the police, ahead of the resumption of the inquest in February.

The man's father, motor dealer Hashim Farraj, 57, told : "He was a fit and well young man. God bless him." The family alluded to the health and safety investigation, ongoing into the death.

In the immediate aftermath of the tragedy, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) said: "We are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding this incident."

Other tributes flooded in for Mr Farraj, described as "kind and caring" by friends. UEA said he had been a member of a number of societies including the Islamic Society, the Medical Society and both the MMA and clubs. The Boxing club has announced plans to hold a 10km run along a route the medical student took regularly in his memory.

The gym, which was closed in the aftermath of Mr Farraj's death, has reopened. It said in a statement: "It is with great sadness that we can confirm that a Norwich Medical School student died at Sportspark on Wednesday evening.

"The thoughts of all in the UEA community are with the student’s family and friends, and we are continuing to provide support to all those affected.

"The Sportspark gym will reopen on Tuesday (22 October) at 2pm. Members will be contacted directly regarding reimbursement for the period that the fitness centre and wider building have been unavailable.

"We are continuing to support the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) with their enquiries, and the University has decided to keep the related item of equipment out of public use until further notice, while the HSE investigation remains ongoing."