A Brazilian man has died after falling into his father’s grave when the gravestone he was sitting on reportedly gave way at a cemetery in Linhares, south-eastern Brazil.
The man, believed to be about 40, was at Sao Jose Municipal Cemetery on Wednesday to visit his father’s grave before attending the burial of a friend who died in a traffic accident the previous day.
According to Metro UK, the incident happened shortly after 2.30pm when the man sat on the gravestone, which collapsed and caused him to fall into the grave.
Other visitors rushed to help after hearing a loud noise, while emergency services were contacted. However, the man was pronounced dead at the scene.
A gravedigger, Nazare Bravin, said the man had arrived at the cemetery, asked where his friend’s burial would take place, parked his motorcycle and walked towards his father’s grave.
The victim has not been publicly named but was identified locally as the husband of a worker with the Linhares municipal council.
The council expressed sympathy to his family and friends, confirming that cemetery staff contacted emergency ambulance service Samu and the fire brigade after the incident.
“We regret the incident that occurred yesterday afternoon at Sao Jose Cemetery in the Interlagos neighbourhood and express our solidarity with the family and friends at this time of grief,” the council said.
It added that emergency responders tried to save the man but were unsuccessful.
A police investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death was ongoing on Thursday.
The council also urged visitors to exercise caution as cemeteries prepare for increased activity ahead of the All Souls’ Day holiday.
It noted that while the local authority was responsible for maintaining public cemetery grounds, families were responsible for the upkeep of individual tombs and graves.
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