In a tragic turn of events, a 39-year-old man named Derek Sink was found dead in a tanning bed at a Planet Fitness club in Indianapolis this week. As per reports, he visited the place on November 8 but his body was discovered on November 11, 2024.
Family members shared that Sink had struggled with drug use, and a needle was discovered in the room. His aunt mentioned that they reported him missing on Friday and noted he was wearing an ankle monitor, which allowed investigators to confirm he hadn’t left the gym. The news has shocked netizens. An X user commented,
“You mean Final Destination is a real movie?”
Netizens pointed out the irregularity of maintenance at gyms like Planet Fitness that has led to the mishap:
“As someone who has managed gyms that offer tanning and has a tanning certification this means they didn't even clean the bed after he used it to follow tanning regulations because they would have found him,” a social media user explained.
“I used to work for planet fitness and the crazy part is youre actually expected to walk the floors at least every 15 minutes and those booths are supposed to be cleaned after every use. So those employees were being lazy and negligent,” another person added.
A few social media users highlighted the lack of workplace standards:
“They're not kidding when they say "no judgment." Even if you die in there, they're not going to judge you!” an X user commented.
“This is the result of DEI hiring processes and the complete lack of standards in the workplace,” an online user wrote.
“Their showers are neglected as much as their tanning beds,” a netizen reacted.
Planet Fitness released a statement saying they were working on upholding brand protocols
The incident came to light after a woman who had visited that morning, before law enforcement’s arrival, mentioned a strong odor that intensified near the tanning rooms, leaving her concerned about how such a situation could occur. Gym member Elizabeth Len questioned why, despite the tanning bed having a door, there wasn’t concern over it being closed for possibly three days.
As per a report by 13 News, Planet Fitness issued a statement expressing sadness over the loss of one of its members, with the franchise owner cooperating closely with local authorities in the investigation.
Chief Corporate Affairs Officer McCall Gosselin emphasized that Planet Fitness prioritized the safety and well-being of its members, adding that the company is collaborating with the local franchise to ensure all safety protocols are being followed.
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On November 11, 2024, a sign on the door of Planet Fitness on Hardegan Street, near U.S. 31 and County Line Road, noted the unavailability of tanning services. As of November 13, 2024, the coroner’s office had not identified the cause or manner of death, and Indianapolis police confirmed that the investigation remains ongoing.
Sink’s family described him as a loving individual and expressed hopes for stricter cleaning policies and an end-of-day checklist for staff to prevent similar incidents.
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