A young soldier's temporary job installing a Christmas decoration ended in tragedy during severe weather conditions in Brazil.

According to Daily Mail, Vinícius Abreu, 21, lost his life Monday when wind gusts exceeding 47 miles per hour caused a 183-foot-tall metal Christmas tree structure to collapse at the Araçatiba Lagoon in Maricá, Brazil.

The devastating incident occurred while Abreu and his coworkers were working on the floating holiday structure. Strong winds toppled the massive decoration, sending several workers diving into the lagoon for safety. Unfortunately, Abreu and two other employees who were descending from the structure at the time were struck by its falling columns.

Tragic Loss Of A Promising Young Man

Abreu's life was marked by service and artistic passion before its untimely end. An only child living with his parents in Mesquita, Rio de Janeiro, he previously served in the Brazilian Army before departing for personal reasons. His pursuits included studying systems analysis while seeking full-time employment, leading him to take a temporary position with the Christmas decoration installation company.

Friends remembered Abreu as a dedicated member of his local evangelical church who possessed musical talents, particularly enjoying playing the piano. His close friend Raphael Motta, who had known him since 2019, shared insights about their friendship that began flourishing in 2021.

Motta recounted his friend's recent employment situation and the devastating impact of his loss. As reported by Brazilian news outlet UOL, Motta said:

Everyone is devastated and trying to keep the faith that he is with God now. When his mother saw me with another friend of ours, she broke down. He was always very intelligent and had a good capacity for storing information. It is an irreparable loss.

Weather Advisory And Municipal Response

Maricá Mayor Fabiano Horta addressed the tragedy by explaining that authorities had issued weather warnings before the incident. He emphasized the unprecedented nature of the weather conditions that contributed to the accident.

The mayor stated:

Our teams reported strong winds from the very beginning. However, the winds that hit the city exceeded 77 kilometers per hour. This is very unusual. It was a violent storm that culminated in this fatality. We are in a state of sadness and, on behalf of the city, we reaffirm our solidarity and full support for Vinícius' family.

Following the fatal accident, city officials decided to cancel plans for the Christmas decorations. The contract with the installation company was terminated without payment.

Similar Tragic Incident In Colombia

The Brazilian tragedy echoes a similar recent accident in Girardot, Colombia. Just over a week prior, 19-year-old auxiliary police officer Kevin Navas lost his life in comparable circumstances when a 98-foot-tall metal Christmas tree structure collapsed at Bolivar Park.

Emergency responders in Colombia worked desperately to save Navas, partially lifting the structure while using cellphone lights to locate him. Despite their efforts, Navas succumbed to multiple injuries at San Rafael Dumian Clinic during the early hours of Thursday.

Final Moments Of A Life Cut Short

Vinícius Abreu's death on Monday at the Araçatiba Lagoon stands as a sobering reminder of workplace hazards. The former Brazilian Army soldier was transported to Conde Modesto Leal Hospital but was pronounced dead upon arrival, while his two injured coworkers received treatment for bruises at Dr. Ernesto Che Guevara Municipal Hospital before being discharged.

As the Maricá community mourns this loss, preparations were made for Abreu's burial, scheduled for Wednesday afternoon. The incident has prompted discussions about safety protocols for large-scale decoration installations, particularly during adverse weather conditions. The planned unveiling of the floating Christmas tree, originally scheduled for Wednesday, will not proceed as the city focuses on supporting Abreu's family through this difficult time.