Peloton, the well-known fitness company, is currently entangled in a legal battle after a New York woman, Johanna Furtado, filed a lawsuit alleging that her son tragically lost his life immediately after falling from one of the company’s exercise bikes. The lawsuit, which was recently made public by the Daily Beast, reveals that the victim, 32-year-old Ryan, passed away on January 13, 2022, while engaged in a core workout in his New York City apartment.
According to Johanna Furtado, her son fell from the Peloton bike, resulting in a severe injury to his carotid artery. The incident occurred approximately six months after Ryan had purchased the high-end exercise bike. She recounted that as her son fell, he attempted to grasp the bike, but it “spun around,” ultimately causing injuries to his neck and face.
When the New York Police arrived at Ryan’s residence, they discovered the exercise bike atop his face and neck. Furtado contends that the exercise bike was “defective and unreasonably dangerous in design, instruction, and warning.”
The tragic incident transpired nearly a year and a half ago, in January 2022, just six months after Ryan’s bike purchase in July 2021. Johanna Furtado initiated the lawsuit several months ago in March 2023, filing it with the Brooklyn Civil Supreme Court. The lawsuit came to public attention when the Daily Beast reported on it earlier this week.
In response to the lawsuit, Peloton swiftly released a statement expressing condolences to the Furtado family and addressing the matter. The company asserted that Ryan’s death marked the “first known fatality” associated with Peloton equipment and emphasized that Peloton was not “legally responsible” for the tragic incident.
The statement read: “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.”
Furthermore, the company denied allegations of “negligence” and stated: “No action or inaction by Peloton was the proximate cause of plaintiff’s or plaintiff’s decedent’s alleged injuries or damages.”
This incident adds to Peloton’s recent string of controversies, including recalls due to faulty bike seats and injuries sustained by over 12 individuals in May 2023. Additionally, Peloton’s Tread+ was in the spotlight when a child tragically died and 90 others were injured due to a connectivity issue with one of the machines.
As these controversies unfold, Peloton’s stock shares have been on a decline. The extent of damages sought by the deceased’s mother in the lawsuit is currently undisclosed. Nevertheless, the news of the lawsuit has sparked concern and shock on social media, with netizens divided over the tragic incident allegedly linked to a Peloton exercise bike.
