“My Heart Stopped Beating”: Canadian Bodybuilder Died on Stage Legally During a Competition for a Minute in 1994

Renowned bodybuilder Paul Dillett is currently ruling the fitness world. Famously known as Freakenstein, Paul earned a great name for his chiseled physique and bodybuilding strength. Although he had a great career, Paul revealed that he experienced a near-death situation during an Arnold Classic Competition in 1994.

In 1996, Paul Dillett came third in the Arnold Classic Championships. He had also participated in Mr. Olympia to compete against legendary Ronnie Coleman. In 1992, he also won the NPC North American Championships. Presently, the IFBB professional bodybuilder is the CEO of World Beauty Fitness & Fashion Inc, a platform that combines fashion and bodybuilding.

What happened to bodybuilder Paul Dillett in 1994?

Although Paul had a genetically gifted body for bodybuilding, he never pushed himself to perfect his pose or shape. He did participate in many prestigious competitions. In 1994’s Arnold Classic Championship, Paul froze suddenly out of dehydration.

Immediately, he was rushed to the hospital. The bodybuilder was so feeble and dehydrated that doctors could not inject four needles into his vein. Later, when Paul opened his eyes, he was shocked to find out that he was not breathing for a minute. Dillett told in an interview with Generation Iron Fitness & Bodybuilding Network, saying, “I came very close to losing my life, it was that bad,” he revealed. “My heart stopped beating for a minute, one whole minute.”

He continued, “I woke up in the hospital, and the doctors told me, ‘we had to revive you, you were legally dead for one minute’… I don’t think I was ever the same after that.”

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According to paul, while he was unconscious, he imagined being transported to a blank space with his dog. At that moment, he did not realize that he was not breathing, almost on the verge of dying. He only remembered it was a blue open space where he stood on glass with his dog 30 feet away from him. He imagined calling his dog who never came to him. The incident left a heavy mark on Paul’s memory that completely changed him.

Why did Paul faint out of dehydration?

After the life-changing experience, Paul tried to find the reason behind his unconsciousness. After the assessment, he realized that an imbalance of magnesium and calcium in his blood led him to faint. Wrong advice from the wrong people messed up his condition.

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The incident brought a big change in his life following which he was not the same at all. He continued to participate in competitions, but he always remembered the incident at every event.