In a story that’s as heartbreaking as it is puzzling, the Furtado family is grappling with the sudden loss of their beloved son, Ryan Furtado, in an incident involving his Peloton exercise bike. However, as they seek answers, Peloton, the fitness company responsible for the bike, is pushing back, arguing that it was Furtado’s actions, not their product, that led to the tragedy.
The lawsuit, initiated in March 2023 by Ryan Furtado’s mother, Johanna Furtado, unfolds like a chilling mystery. It alleges that the 32-year-old was on his Peloton journey on January 13, 2022, deep into a “core” workout. Like many of us, he decided to mix it up, disembarking from the bike to engage in some floor exercises.
As Furtado attempted to rise, he reached out to the stationary bike for support, expecting it to remain just that—stationary. But in a cruel turn of events, the bike unexpectedly spun around, striking him in the neck and face. The impact ultimately severed his carotid artery, leading to his demise.
When the NYPD arrived at the scene, they discovered the Peloton bike, still looming over Furtado. The bike itself had only entered Furtado’s life six months prior, a seemingly innocuous purchase made in July 2021.
It’s a stark reminder that tragedy can strike unexpectedly, as Ryan Furtado’s death marks the first known fatality connected to Peloton’s widely popular exercise bike. It’s a stark contrast to a prior incident in March 2021 when a child tragically lost their life while using a Peloton treadmill.
In response to the distressing allegations, Peloton spokesperson Ben Boyd conveyed the company’s deepest condolences to the Furtado family. He released a statement asserting that, “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.”
However, Johanna Furtado firmly asserts that her son’s Peloton bike was “defective and unreasonably dangerous in design, instruction, and warning.” In pursuit of justice for her son, she seeks unspecified damages. Peloton, on the other hand, vehemently denies any responsibility, arguing that negligence is the true culprit.
In their formal response to the lawsuit, Peloton asserts, “Upon information and belief, the incident giving rise to this action was caused by the negligence or other culpable conduct of one or more parties for which Peloton is not responsible, and, therefore, Peloton is not legally responsible.”
Peloton has faced its share of challenges in recent years, including equipment recalls. In May, the Peloton Bike was recalled due to a faulty seat post, resulting in 12 reported injuries. Prior to that, the company recalled its Tread+ treadmill after a child’s tragic death and 90 reported injuries.
Peloton’s most recent earnings report, covering the three months ending June 30, revealed that the recall of the Bike seat post incurred higher costs than initially projected. This unforeseen financial burden may have also prompted some members to reconsider their subscriptions.
