Sitting among huge over-sized cushions, the official World’s Smallest Body Builder wasn’t feeling himself and was watching television to try to relax. He’d been feeling nauseous and light-headed for seven days. But he refused to lie in bed doing nothing.
As passionate as ever, he carried on exercising and fulfilling job commitments. In August he had performed on stage in Chandigarh, northern India, dancing and cheering along with the crowd.
Meet the world's smallest bodybuilder
But on September 13, Aditya ‘Romeo’ Dev died, aged just 23.
His father, Anil Dev Sharma, 53, says: “It’s a huge loss for our family; we will be grieving his death for the rest of our life. Doctors told us many years ago that he may die at an early age. All these years we prayed they were wrong and he’d have a long life.’’
Romeo was born a primordial dwarf, weighing 800 grams and just 15 centimetres tall. His genetic disorder meant he was in proportion but tiny and would be so in all stages of life. There are only 100 sufferers in the world and life expectancy is normally just 30 years.
In 2006, after Romeo had become a local celebrity in Punjab, India, he made it into the Guinness Book of World Records’ as the Smallest Body Builder and travelled the world making stage and television appearances. His 84-centimetre height and ten-kilogram frame made him a phenomenon the world over.
“Despite his small size, he lived life to the full,’’ his father says. “He was always cheerful and friendly and made everyone around him smile. In a very short period of time he became popular all over the world. We are very proud of his achievements.’’
Difficult decisions
In 2008 a documentary team took Romeo to a US specialist where he was diagnosed with a cerebral aneurysm. He was also diagnosed with Moyamoya syndrome, a disease where certain arteries in the brain are constricted, causing blood clots. Doctors warned Romeo the aneurysm could burst, leading to a fatal stroke. His father says: “The doctors in the US had told us that the aneurysm could burst at any time. In September 2008, doctors in Bengaluru even offered to operate on him but we were told the procedure would be very risky so we decided against it. They told us he could die at any time if left untreated, but we took the risk. I suppose we were mentally prepared for this day.’’
Romeo only started feeling unwell at the beginning of September. And when he fainted on September 9 he was rushed to hospital.
Tests found that his aneurysm had grown four times larger than when it was last measured in 2008. “But Romeo is a determined boy,’’ Anil says. “Even though he didn’t feel like himself, he still did his exercise routines. There was no stopping him.
“Three days later, after watching TV he was doing a spot of exercise when he suddenly collapsed and fell unconscious. I suppose his little body couldn’t take any more.’’ ’
Romeo was rushed to Satyam Hospital, in Jalandhar, in Punjab, where he remained in a coma for the night. His father and mother, Rakesh, 49, kept a bedside vigil, along with his older sister and younger brother.
Desperate hopes
Anil says, “It was a very sad moment to see our son lying so helpless. We had always known this day would come but we never wanted to accept it. We so desperately wanted him to lead a normal life. We were even hoping he could marry one day.....’’
Sadly, Romeo died at 9.30am on September 13, with his family around him. One of the doctors at Satyam Hospital, Dr Neeraj Chandan, explains, “He was unconscious when he arrived at the hospital. The nerve supplying blood to his brain had ruptured and caused brain damage or aneurysm bleeding. There was very little chance of him surviving.’’
Anil says, “Doctors told us that if he had survived, he would’ve been left in a paralytic state. We didn’t want that for him, we wanted him to be happy. He died peacefully.’’
Romeo’s best friend, Maninder Singh, 19, who used to go to the gym with him, says, “His death was a shocking moment; I just can’t believe he’s gone. We never thought this day would come so soon. His small bat, his bikes and his bedroom at his home are only memories of him now.”
Romeo was cremated that evening at Phagwara, in Punjab.
“Hundreds of people were at his funeral, all his fans and the people that loved him,” Anil says.
