A man has died in a freak accident after the headstone he was sitting on at his father’s grave reportedly gave way, causing him to fall into the grave.
The incident occurred at Sao Jose Municipal Cemetery in Linhares, in the northern part of Brazil’s Espirito Santo state, about 400 miles north of Rio de Janeiro.
The victim, believed to be around 40 years old, had reportedly visited his father’s grave before attending the burial of a friend who died in a traffic accident the previous day.
According to reports, the man sat on top of his father’s headstone, but it allegedly collapsed beneath him, causing him to fall into the grave below.
Other cemetery visitors reportedly rushed to help after hearing a loud noise. They subsequently called emergency services after discovering what had happened.
However, despite the intervention of emergency responders, the man was pronounced dead at the scene. His identity had not been officially released at the time of the report, although he was locally identified as the husband of a Linhares council worker.
Police Investigate Circumstances Of Death
Gravedigger Nazare Bravin reportedly said the man arrived at the cemetery, asked where his friend’s burial would take place, parked his motorcycle and walked towards his father’s grave.
A police investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident is ongoing.
In a statement, Linhares Council expressed condolences to the victim’s family and friends, confirming that cemetery staff had contacted emergency medical services and firefighters.
“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 staff members at the cemetery were present when the incident occurred and immediately called for emergency assistance.
“Despite their efforts to save this man, the victim unfortunately passed on,” the statement added.
Council Issues Safety Advisory
The council also urged members of the public to exercise caution when visiting cemeteries ahead of the All Souls’ Day holiday, when visitor numbers are expected to increase.
It explained that while the local authority is responsible for administering public cemetery spaces, including general cleaning and maintenance, the upkeep of individual tombs and graves remains the responsibility of families.
The circumstances surrounding the collapse of the headstone and the man’s subsequent death remain under investigation.
