Sonny Bill Williams has ‘near death experience’

Sonny Bill Williams narrowly escaped being crushed after a weightlifting accident at his home gym.

On Wednesday, the former NRL star turned heavyweight boxer, 37, spoke out about the ‘near death experience’.

Williams revealed that he was squatting 120 kg when he was nearly crushed after misjudging the placement of the bar holders.

The incident was captured entirely on video and shows the terrifying moment when the barbell set narrowly misses Williams’ head and neck as he ducks to the side.

Williams described the incident on social media as a “near death experience.”

‘I’ve been telling Alhumdulliah all day that the kids weren’t in the garage. If you do squats at home and gain weight, I recommend getting a cage,” he said.

Alhamdulillah is an Arabic phrase, meaning “praise to god,” sometimes translated as “thank God.”

The 37-year-old is a devout Muslim and regularly uses social media to express his faith.

Williams fans were relieved that the boxer was unharmed in the accident.

‘Calm down SBW! Hope you are well,” one wrote.

Another wrote: “Stay safe brother.”

Allah ALLAH! I hope you weren’t hurt. Stay safe brother,” a third added.

A number of followers urged the sports star to use a much more stable squat rack.

SPC Performance Lab owner Paul Attard told Daily Mail Australia weightlifters should take extra care when lifting alone.

“Your face and neck are the most vulnerable places on your body,” he said.

If the rack were to hit his head or neck, serious injury or even death could result.

Last year, a woman was tragically crushed to death in a gym after a 181 kg barbell fell on top of her neck.

Surveillance video taken at the training facility shows the woman stepping under the barbell, which appears to have at least four weighted plates on each end.

She appears to have control of the heavy barbell for about four seconds, but then it falls on her neck, causing her to sink to the floor.

Red Cross paramedics found the woman without vital signs and pronounced her dead at the scene.

In 2017, a 15-year-old boy from Brisbane died in hospital for three days after being crushed by a 98-kilogram weight while training at his local gym.

Ben Shaw was reportedly trapped under the heavy barbell for up to 30 minutes after it fell on his neck.

The 15-year-old was left with serious injuries and was rushed to hospital, before his family was forced to make the heartbreaking decision to cut off his life support.

The incident comes as Sonny Bill Williams ramps up his workout routine as rumors of a fight against Paul Gallen gain momentum

Williams fans were relieved the boxer was unharmed before begging him to invest in a squat rack

The rumors of a fight between Sonny Bill Williams and Paul Gallen are finally starting to gain momentum

The Sydney Morning Herald reports that Gallen had an informal chat with executives at Stan, with Williams agreeing to the fight – and now money is the only sticking point.

The former Sharks star believes it should be a 50-50 split, and will not accept Williams getting a bigger share.

Williams announced earlier this year that he would not retire from boxing after a brutal knockout loss to Mark Hunt, but will not be fighting Gallen – calling him a ‘narcissist’ who he ‘can’t stand’.

“I can’t really stand him with that guy, the narcissistic type of guy,” Williams explained.

“For me, guys like that aren’t in my circle. It’s not that I don’t respect what he’s done in the sport, but as a man I would never say we would be friends or allow such a man in my circle.

“Am I willing to give him a shelter and make some money out of it? Naturally. But he’s retired, so good for him. He’s done a good job, he’s come out and said he’s made all this money and whatever it is, so good for him.”

According to reports, Gallen (pictured beating Lucas Browne) had an informal chat with Stan executives about the fight

Gallen, whose last fight was a victory over former Maroons star Justin Hodges, was stunned by Williams’ latest comments and says the former All Black has no right to judge him as a person.

In addition, Gallen believes that if they ever stepped into the ring together, he would be the biggest draw and should receive more of the earnings.

“He says he’s the draw and it’s payday for everyone else. I’m not fighting him unless I get the lion’s share. I’m the one coming out of retirement, I’m the one who’s had bigger fights,” Gallen told Wide World of Sports.

‘I don’t know what to think about it all. As a person who feels that he is so saintly and kind, I am simply amazed by his comments.

“I never passed judgment on him as a person. The worst thing I’ve said about him is that he’s afraid to fight me.’