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An Elderly Man, 71, Driven by a Dream of Gold, Dug for Six Months a Narrow 40-Meter Hole in His Home, Slipped While Exiting, and Died. Understand What Happened and Why the Risk Is Huge.
A dream, an improbable work, and a brutal end. It sounds like a movie script, but it really happened: an elderly man over 70 years old spent months digging a well inside his own house, believing he would find gold.
The “mission” ended in the worst possible scene, a fall of approximately 40 meters and a rescue that could no longer reverse the outcome.
According to Information Passed to Firefighters, the Elderly Man Had Started a Kind of Treasure Hunt
The case occurred in Ipatinga, in the Vale do Rio Doce, on the night of Thursday (4). The victim was identified as João Pimenta da Silva, 71 years old.
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For around 200 reais, anyone can buy a kit and have a chip implanted between their fingers to replace cards, keys, badges, and even medical information in case of a hospital emergency.
According to information passed to the firefighters, he had started a kind of treasure hunt after reporting a dream/”revelation” that there was gold beneath his house, in the Betânia neighborhood.
The excavation was done in the service area. The hole, described as a circle of about 90 centimeters in diameter and approximately 40 meters deep, had been opened for months — in one version, for six months.
Witnesses said that the situation was communicated to the Fire Department.
The Fall: Elderly Man Slipped While Exiting the Hole
According to the report gathered during the service, João lost his balance while exiting an improvised structure at the top of the excavation and ended up falling.
A friend who was helping him described the moment in a distressing way: “When he reached the top, the balance began to slip…”.
The firefighters made the recovery, but he was already lifeless. The described condition was one of multiple trauma, with exposed fractures in both legs, hip fracture, laceration of the abdomen and torso, and severe cranial trauma.
The forensics were summoned, arrived at the scene, and the body was released to a funeral home.
Elderly Man Digs Hole Alone: Why Is This So Dangerous
Even when there is occasional help, this type of domestic excavation resembles a high-risk environment: narrow, deep space, with the chance of falling, soil instability, and even respiratory problems.
The captain of the Fire Department himself highlighted the size of the danger and mentioned the requirements and risks of this type of activity: “A very large risk that he ran, and unfortunately, he became a victim.”
Moreover, labor safety regulations treat such locations as confined spaces, requiring control, surveillance, and a rescue plan — it is not just a matter of “going down and up” any way.
The NR-33 clearly states that there must be formal emergency control measures, including roles such as watchman and rescue activation.
Now tell me: had you ever heard a similar story? Leave a comment with your opinion — and, if you think it’s important, share this text to alert more people.
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