A 15-year-old has died in hospital, days after he was crushed at a Brisbane gym while trying to bench press about 100 kilograms.

Ben Shaw was found by a staff member at the Pine Rivers PCYC gym on Tuesday evening pinned to a bench after the weightlifting accident occurred.

It was not clear how long he was trapped.

Tributes for Ben emerged on social media with loved ones saying he had died at the Lady Cilento Children’s Hospital on Saturday.

“You were my best friend and you will be missed so much!” one friend wrote.

“I can’t thank your parents enough for how they’ve raised you to be such a great mate, they would be so proud of you just as I am,” another said.

Sharon Hickey, the president of the Pine Central Holy Spirit Hornets rugby league club, said Ben’s organs and tissue would be donated to help others.

“As a club we will be assisting to see the world through Ben’s eyes and ensure his legacy lives on in support of his parent’s and family,” she said in a statement.

The Pine River Gym where 15-year-old aspiring weightlifter Ben Shaw was found crushed. Photo: Facebook

Queensland Health Minister Cameron Dick described Ben’s death as “a very sad and tragic event”.

“I do know that Workplace Health and Safety Queensland are investigating the matter and they will conduct a thorough review of what occurred and will be very diligent in their investigation of this very sad event,” he said.

“When that report is prepared it will be considered further by any prosecuting authority that’s relevant to the matter, but one step at a time.

“We’ll look very carefully at the incident and prepare a thorough report, keeping in mind always the very sad and tragic impact it’s had on this young man’s family.”

PCYC gym and fitness centre rules state that children under 16 years of age are not permitted to use weights equipment without proper supervision.

It also states members use the equipment at their own risk and management assumes no responsibility for any injury that may occur.

After the incident, PCYC chief executive Phil Schultz said the organisation would fully cooperate with the investigation.

“This is a terrible incident and everyone here at PCYC Qld has been impacted by it,” he said.

-ABC