A former Brazilian top-flight footballer has died after a wall collapsed on him during strong winds in Rio de Janeiro. Tassio Maia dos Santos, 41, was one of two men who were crushed when the structure gave way on Wednesday in the Santa Teresa district of Rio de Janeiro.
The incident occurred at a historic mansion, which is now a wedding venue that overlooks the city's Sugarloaf Mountain and Christ the Redeemer statue, while Santos was working there. His friend and colleague, Vandre Cordeiro, also died in the incident.
Santos played for several teams in Brazil, including Botafogo, and had also represented clubs in Bulgaria and Costa Rica during his 17-year professional career. After making his debut in 2002, he enjoyed a successful career, representing 27 clubs before his retirement in 2019.
Botafogo paid tribute to Santos in a statement, expressing their deepest condolences to his family, friends, and everyone who had known him. The club remembered Santos for his time with them in 2015, when he was just 41 years old.
The collapse of the building came as Rio was struck by gale-force winds up to 75mph, causing widespread disruption throughout the city. The severe weather resulted in power supplies being cut off, dozens of trees being uprooted, and all three of Rio's metro lines being temporarily suspended, leaving thousands stranded.
Three other people lost their lives during the storm, including a fisherman whose boat sank. In São Paulo, two men were killed when trees fell on them. The incident is a tragic reminder of the devastating impact that severe weather can have on communities.
