Weightlifter knocked out in scary gym fail

A Dutch weightlifter has been knocked unconscious in perhaps the scariest gym fail yet.

Video of the incident shows a man successfully perform the first part of a clean and jerk – lifting the bar from the floor before struggling to get out of a squat position.

He manages to rise to a standing position but it is then that the weight becomes too much for him and things start to go dramatically awry.

He begins to topple backwards as he tries to lift the bar above his head before falling backwards and smashing the back of his head on the bottom of the mirror.

It takes a little while for the man's fellow gym-goers to realise the seriousness of the situation but when they do, three of them rush over to wheel the bar away and help him to his feet.

The man smiles sheepishly and appears to be in good spirits despite the nasty accident.

Despite the happy ending, it's a timely reminder for the weekend warriors out there not too load to much weight onto any bar.