A 21-year-old soldier named Vinicius Abreu tragically lost his life on Monday when a towering floating Christmas tree collapsed during its installation in Maricá, Brazil.
Abreu was part of a team assembling the 183-foot-tall holiday decoration on the Araçatiba Lagoon when sudden wind gusts of more than 47 miles per hour shook and brought down the structure.
Some workers luckily managed to jump into the water for safety yet Abreu and two others were struck by falling columns as they were descending from the tree.
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The Brazilian soldier was rushed to Conde Modesto Leal Hospital but died before his body got to the hospital, as per reports.
Huge floating Christmas tree collapses during storm in Brazil, at least one person reported killed pic.twitter.com/UDFOewrngd
— RT (@RT_com) December 18, 2024
The other two coworkers sustained minor injuries and were treated at a local hospital before being released.
The incident has sparked loads of grief and questions about workplace safety measures.
Abreu was an only child remembered as a dedicated churchgoer, musician, and former Brazilian Army member.
He had recently left the military to pursue a career in systems analysis and was working temporarily to support himself before this tragic event.
“He was such a good boy; he didn’t deserve this,” a friend said. “He was young, talented, and had so much ahead of him.”
One of Vinicius’ close friends, Raphael Motta, said Abreu never expressed concerns about his safety on the job. “Everyone is devastated and trying to keep the faith that he is with God now,” Motta said.
Maricá Mayor Fabiano Horta expressed his condolences to Abreu’s family and acknowledged that weather advisories had been issued ahead of the storm.
“The winds that hit the city exceeded 77 kilometers per hour,” Horta said. “It was a violent storm that culminated in this fatality. On behalf of the city, we reaffirm our solidarity and full support for Vinícius’ family.”
The floating tree, which is a part of the city’s Christmas festivities, was set to be unveiled on Wednesday.
Horta announced the display would be cancelled and revealed that the contractor responsible for its installation would not be compensated.
The soldier’s death comes after a similar incident in Girardot, Colombia, where a 19-year-old auxiliary police officer died earlier this month after a 98-foot-tall metal Christmas tree collapsed. Both cases have drawn attention to the need for stricter safety protocols in seasonal construction projects.
Abreu’s funeral was held Wednesday and it left his family, friends, and community mourning the loss of a promising young life cut short.
