World's 'most monstrous bodybuilder' dies aged 36

A man dubbed as the world's "most monstrous bodybuilder" has reportedly died aged 36.

The sudden passing of Illia 'Golem' Yefimchyk, from Belarus, was confirmed on Wednesday (September 11) by the Instagram account @whoisthebestbb.

According to the Daily Mail, Russian and Belarusian media reported that the 36-year-old, who was also known as "The Mutant," allegedly suffered a heart attack at home on September 6 and fell into a coma.

The publications said that Yefimchyk's wife Anna performed chest compressions as she waited for the ambulance. He was then flown to the hospital by helicopter.

The grieving widow issued a heartbreaking statement to local media which read: "I prayed all this time, hoping that Illia would recover.

"I spent every day by his side, hoping, and his heart started beating again for two days, but the doctor gave me the terrible news that his brain had died," she continued. "I thank everyone for their condolences."

Anna said it's "very heartwarming" to realize that she's not left alone in this world, adding: "Many people have offered me help and support."

The late bodybuilder, who amassed more than 306K followers on social media, stood at 6ft 1 inch tall and boasted an impressive 61-inch chest and 25-inch biceps.

He ate seven times a day and consumed 16,500 calories. His daily meals included over five pounds of steak and more than 100 pieces of sushi.

The disciplined athlete was known for his exceptional gym skills, which included bench-pressing 600lbs and deadlifting and squatting 700lbs weights, per Metro.

He opened up about his hard work in an interview, sharing: "My transformation is a result of years of hard training and discipline, paired with an understanding of exercise physiology and nutrition," as cited by Daily Mail.

"My mission is to instill a work ethic in people so they can overcome and surmount their fears while acting confidently towards the betterment of themselves and those around them," he added.

He was a dedicated bodybuilder before his death. Credit: Helder Faria / Getty

In 2020, Yefimchyk spoke to Muscular Development about how he started his bodybuilding journey. Despite not competing in the competitions, he was determined to follow in the footsteps of stars like Arnold Schwarzenegger.

"All I knew was that I wanted to have a chest and biceps like Arnold Schwarzenegger," he said, cited by the outlet.

Our thoughts are with Yefimchyk's family and friends at this devastating time.

Featured image credit: Helder Faria / Getty