Peloton bike 'instantly kills' man after his artery is severed, family claim

08 September 2023 , 09:17

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An obituary for Ryan Furtado said his "life was flourishing" before he was killed

A man who died "instantly" after a Peloton bike severed his carotid artery was killed by his own negligence, the company insists.

32-year-old New Yorker Ryan Furtado was doing a "core" workout on the popular exercise bike on January 13, 2022, just six months after he had bought it, his family claims. He got off the bike to complete a set of exercises on the floor, according to a lawsuit filed in state court.

As he got up, he grabbed hold of the bike to assist him, however, the lawsuit says it soon "spun around", hitting his neck and face. It severed his carotid artery "killing him instantly".

Officers from the New York Police Department responded to a call to Mr Furtado's home. When they arrived, they found the bike still on top of his neck and face, according to the suit.

Ryan Furtado was killed when his Peloton exercise bike landed on top of him, severing an artery

Mr Furtado was originally from Hawaii, and an obituary in a local Maui news outlet said his "life was flourishing" and that his "kind heart, witty humour, and overall zest for life will be forever cherished and missed." The University of Redlands graduate "was the best everything, son, grandson, brother, uncle and friend," read the obituary.

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"In his life he loved his family, friends, travelling, music, baking, games and all things Star Wars. He loved the ocean and land alike and found adventures where he could. He left us far too soon and will be loved forever."

Mr Furtado's mother, Johanna Furtado, filed the lawsuit in the Brooklyn Civil Supreme Court in March 2023.

The suit says Peloton instructs members to "use the Bike for stretching", but "applying pressure on the Bike in a pulling and pushing fashion caus[es] the Bike to destabilise and fall." It also says Peloton should have predicted and warned against the "foreseeable misuse" that people would use the bike to help them get up from the floor, as Mr Furtado had done.

There was a single warning label on the bike, on the front right leg, which the lawsuit claims is inadequate. Instead, it says Peloton should have put multiple labels on the bike's stem and base to "adequately warn the user of injury that could occur" if they use the bike to help themselves up.

He had been doing a "core" workout on his Peloton exercise bike when he grabbed hold of it to help him get up and it fell on him (Getty Images)

It is the first known fatality linked to Peloton's incredibly popular exercise bike. However, it is not the first fatality for the company after a child was killed by a Peloton treadmill in March 2021.

Peloton issued a statement on Thursday, September 7. Spokesman Ben Boyd said: "We offer our deepest sympathy and condolences to the Furtado family for this unfortunate accident. As a Member-first company, the health and safety of our Member community is a top priority."

Attorneys Mike Morgan and Gennady Voldz, representing the Furtado family, also provided their own statement on Thursday. They said above all else Peloton "has a duty to community clearly and honestly with customers about the dangers inherent in their products."

"The sympathy and condolences Peloton has offered to our client in public statements ring hollow while their lawyers deny any responsibility and blame Mr Furtado for his own tragic and avoidable death," said the statement. "We will do everything in our power to hold Peloton accountable for their actions and inactions that allegedly led to the death of a kind and funny 32-year-old who should still be with us today."

Mr Furtadi's mum alleges her son's bike was "defective and unreasonably dangerous in design, instruction, and warning." She is seeking unspecified damages through the lawsuit.

Mr Furtado's mum has called the bike "unreasonably dangerous" (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

However, Peloton claims it is not liable and the tragic accident was a result of "negligence". The company responded to the lawsuit from Mr Furtado's mother in April, saying: "Upon information and belief, the incident giving rise to this action was caused by the negligence or other culpable conduct of one or more parties for which Peloton is not responsible, and, therefore, Peloton is not legally responsible.

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"No action of inaction by Peloton was the proximate cause of plaintiff's or plaintiff's descendent's alleged injuries or damages."

But over the last few years, Peloton's exercise equipment has been recalled numerous times. In May, the bike was recalled due to a faulty seat post that could unexpectedly detach and break during use - with the recall coming after 12 reported injuries.

The Tread+ has also been recalled previously after a child died and 90 injuries were reported in connection with the treadmill, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission. During the company's most recent earnings report for the three months ending June 30, the company said the recall of the Bike seat post was costing more than it expected and potentially leading members to cancel their subscriptions.

Fiona Leishman