An investigation has been initiated following the tragic death of bodybuilder Giuliano Pirone, who was found unconscious under a cold shower after lying there for 15 hours. Pirone, 33, fell ill while training at a 24-hour gym in Perth, Australia, on August 20.
Reports indicate that he began feeling unwell during his workout and went to a shower stall around 7:30 a.m., where he subsequently collapsed. It wasn’t until 10:30 p.m. that police, tracing signals from his mobile phone, discovered him slumped on the shower floor beneath cold running water. His family had raised concerns about his welfare around 3 p.m. that same day.
According to ABC News, Pirone sustained a brain injury and never regained consciousness. He passed away in a Joondalup hospital approximately two weeks later. On October 8, WorkSafe WA, the health and safety regulator in Western Australia, announced an inquiry to determine if the gym had breached its duty of care.
A WorkSafe WA spokesperson noted that it is still too early to identify any specific breaches under investigation, as inspectors are in the process of gathering information from the industry. Giuliano’s family is troubled by how long it took for staff to notice his absence and is advocating for gyms to implement hourly checks of bathrooms and showers to prevent similar tragedies.
His mother, Daniela Pirone, revealed that CCTV footage showed her son appearing unwell on a treadmill before staggering towards the showers. She supports the investigation and is pushing for stricter safety regulations within the fitness industry.
The Pirone family has called for a coronial inquest into his death and is insisting on a check-in and check-out system at gyms. Police have already seized the CCTV footage and are preparing a report for the coroner.
In September, the owner of the Perth gym expressed condolences to the Pirone family and emphasized a commitment to maintaining a safe environment, noting that further improvements are being considered.