Orangeburg, SC (WLTX) -- The Orangeburg County Sheriff's Department says a man died while lifting weights in his home Saturday.
According to an incident report, there were 500 to 600 pounds of weight on the bench, which caused the main support for the mechanism to break and drop the weights on the victim's chest area.
The victim is identified as 39-year-old Joseph Lee Williams Jr.
Investigators say it appears Williams was home alone while weight lifting. They say his wife returned home and found him lying on the weight bench breathless. According to the incident report neighbors helped get the bar off Williams.
Deputies say Williams was likely dead for several hours before they were called to the scene. A deputy coroner called to the home says Williams likely died from the impact of the weights on his chest, but an autopsy will be performed for further details on what may have caused his death.