Goosey
.
I only use spotters at each end of the bar to assist with the lift, they will never take the full load. It's also up to the lifter to decided if they want spotter before they lift. If I or my lifters get into trouble on their own they have been taught how bail out safely.
I tried to spot a guy once, at his request, with hands on the bar, it was 180kgs, at the time more than my 1rm deadlift. I had no chance. He went down, couldn't get out of the bottom, all I could do was try and pull it off his back, he flicked it off at the same time into me. Could of ended much worse, not a safe option in my opinion, but neither is grabbing the body, what happens if you both can't lift it?
Was he squatting in a cage?
I've seen squatter using Vulcan type racks, the squatter got stuck and a *good* spotter virtually pull the bar of the back of a trainee.