This is the intense moment a gymgoer called for help by flicking his shoe when the weights trapped him.

The fitness enthusiast increased the weight plates for his bench press exercise but was unable to lift it in Xinjiang, China, on September 13.

The bar was spread across his neck pinning him to the chair.

CCTV footage shows the man tossing his other left shoe towards two men standing nearby to attract their attention. Upon seeing where the object came from, the men noticed the struggling individual and immediately ran to help lift the barbell.

The gym owner said: 'He is still very frightened by the incident. He is lucky that two men were there to help him.'

Thousands of gym-related injuries are recorded each year due to equipment incidents, fractures, muscle strains, and sprains.