Story By Marija Stojkoska
News Editor Ajda Ender
This is the moment a bodybuilder is hit by a car while running along a road during his morning training session.
Levy Bonfim is run over on Tuesday, July 26, 2026, in Arapiraca, Brazil. ***Video Licence Restrictions: NEWS MEDIA PORTALS ONLY. Usage on social media is possible but we offer no guarantees. This video is offered under our ‘social and local media source’ licence. For details see https://newsx.agency/licences/ For terms visit: https://newsx.media/terms-conditions/
According to reports, nutritionist and bodybuilder Levy Bonfim was exercising along the Ceci Cunha avenue in the Itapoa neighbourhood of Arapiraca municipality, in Alagoas state, north-eastern Brazil at around 6.30am on 28th July, including on the lane used by vehicles.
Bodybuilder Levy Bonfim poses in undated photo. He was run over while jogging on Tuesday, July 26, 2026, in Arapiraca, Brazil. Note: Photo is a screenshot from a video. (@levybomfim, Newsflash/NX)
Security camera footage shows the athlete running on the road in the same direction as traffic.
Bodybuilder Levy Bonfim poses in undated photo. He was run over while jogging on Tuesday, July 26, 2026, in Arapiraca, Brazil. Note: Private picture. (@levybomfim, Newsflash/NX)
Levy then seemingly moves towards the middle of the lane when a white BYD Dolphin Mini approaches from behind and strikes him, sending him flying onto the asphalt several metres away.
Bodybuilder Levy Bonfim poses in undated photo. He was run over while jogging on Tuesday, July 26, 2026, in Arapiraca, Brazil. Note: Private picture. (@levybomfim, Newsflash/NX)
The vehicle appears to swerve towards another lane in an attempt to avoid the collision before continuing away from the scene.
Bodybuilder Levy Bonfim poses in with woman undated photo. He was run over while jogging on Tuesday, July 26, 2026, in Arapiraca, Brazil. Note: Private picture. (@levybomfim, Newsflash/NX)
Levy was rescued by emergency responders and taken to the Emergency Hospital of Agreste before later being transferred to a hospital in Maceio, where he was due to undergo surgery on his cervical spine.
Bodybuilder Levy Bonfim poses with woman and children in undated photo. He was run over while jogging on Tuesday, July 26, 2026, in Arapiraca, Brazil. Note: Photo is a screenshot from a video. (@levybomfim, Newsflash/NX)
His wife, doctor Fernanda Vasconcelos, said Levy narrowly avoided a spinal cord injury that could have left him tetraplegic.
Bodybuilder Levy Bonfim poses with woman and children in undated photo. He was run over while jogging on Tuesday, July 26, 2026, in Arapiraca, Brazil. Note: Private picture. (@levybomfim, Newsflash/NX)
She said: “Really, it was a delicate injury that, by a small margin, did not cause a spinal cord injury. If it had affected the spinal cord, it could have left him tetraplegic, and not paraplegic.”
Bodybuilder Levy Bonfim poses in undated photo. He was run over while jogging on Tuesday, July 26, 2026, in Arapiraca, Brazil. Note: Photo is a screenshot from a video. (@levybomfim, Newsflash/NX)
Fernanda said Levy fractured cervical vertebrae, as well as suffering fractures to his foot and pelvis and injuries to his face, but his spinal cord was not affected.
Levy Bonfim is run over on Tuesday, July 26, 2026, in Arapiraca, Brazil. He suffered suffered fractures in his neck and pelvis, as well as injuries to his face. Note: Photo is a screenshot from a video. (Newsflash/NX)
She added: “He is conscious, moves his arms and legs, and does not have any motor deficit.”
Levy Bonfim is run over on Tuesday, July 26, 2026, in Arapiraca, Brazil. He suffered suffered fractures in his neck and pelvis, as well as injuries to his face. Note: Photo is a screenshot from a video. (Newsflash/NX)
She also denied claims circulating online that doctors had said Levy was just one centimetre away from suffering a spinal cord injury.
Levy Bonfim is run over on Tuesday, July 26, 2026, in Arapiraca, Brazil. He suffered suffered fractures in his neck and pelvis, as well as injuries to his face. Note: Photo is a screenshot from a video. (Newsflash/NX)
She explained: “The information about one centimetre is not correct. It was an important injury and one that, by a small margin, did not affect the spinal cord, but it was not exactly one centimetre.”
The first stage of Levy’s cervical spine surgery was scheduled for Monday, 3rd August, with a second procedure to be arranged on a different day by the medical team to ensure his safety during the delicate process.
Fernanda said doctors were optimistic about his recovery and that he had never been at risk of death.
She said: “The prognosis is good. Generally, patients evolve well. He does not have motor deficits, he moves his arms and legs, he is conscious and at no point was he at risk of death.”
A scan also revealed an epidural haematoma in the skull area, but doctors decided surgery was not necessary because it was being reabsorbed naturally by his body.
The driver of the vehicle went voluntarily to the Traffic Accidents and Offences Police Station in central Arapiraca after the crash and was released after giving a statement.
Police are analysing security camera footage to clarify the circumstances of the collision.
Fernanda said the family was following the legal developments of the case and said what affected them most was that the driver did not stop to provide assistance after the crash.
Frequent visitors to avenue said the lack of space on the pavements and central strip forces runners and other people exercising to share the road with vehicles.
One runner said: “I usually run outside the pavement because it is narrow and there is not enough space for several people to pass while running. As a result, we have to share the road with vehicles, which are constantly passing by. The athlete has to compete for space with cars.”
(Marija Stojkoska/Newsflash)
