An eight-month-old baby died when she was crushed by a concrete pillar that collapsed as she lay in a hammock on her family’s porch.
Little Maria Liz was lying in the hammock with her father at the family home in Ico, Ceara State, Brazil, on 14th November when the pillar collapsed onto them.
She sustained severe injuries to her tiny body.
Other family members were also in hammocks on the porch at the time and were also hit by falling debris but did not require medical attention.
The house where the accident took place is reportedly undergoing renovations.
Harrowing footage taken shortly after the incident shows how the collapsed column was apparently made of dense concrete.
One of Maria’s relatives told local media that she was taken to the Regional Hospital of Ico in a serious condition.
She was then transferred to Santo Antonio Hospital in nearby Barbalha, but she had a cardiac arrest en route.
The relative said: “She managed to get to the hospital but died straight away.”
Maria leaves behind an older half-sister from her mother’s previous marriage.
Her funeral was held on 16th November.
Her cousin told local media: “It’s like a nightmare. Her mother is under the effect of tranquillisers and her father is inconsolable. He said his life had ended.”
Civil Police in Ico will investigate the case.