A 36-year-old woman has died after she was relaxing in a hammock with her sister and the family dog when the structure collapsed and a supporting pillar hit her head.
The tragic accident took place at the victim’s home in the neighbourhood of Concha D’Ostra in the coastal town of Guarapari in the Brazilian state of Espirito Santo on 20th February.
The victim, named as Claydiane Fick, 36, was relaxing on the hammock with her sister Leidiane when she decided to put the dog with them.
The hammock then collapsed and one of the supporting pillars fell and hit her on the head.
Leidiane explained that they were waiting for lunch when they decided to relax on the hammock, adding: “I told her before about this concern, but she said it was okay, it could take the weight.
“When she put the dog in, the net came loose and the structure fell on her. It hit her head. I was desperate and started screaming for help.”
The victim’s 13-year-old daughter was in the living room when she heard the screams.
Desperate, they called the emergency services and tried to reach relatives and neighbours.
An ambulance arrived on the scene about 15 minutes after the incident and Claydiane was still breathing after being hit on the head and right arm.
However, she went into cardiorespiratory arrest in the ambulance and had to be revived by paramedics.
According to the news site O Tempo, the victim was flown by helicopter to the Hospital Sao Lucas in the state capital Vitoria where she passed away later the same day shortly before undergoing surgery.
She leaves behind her husband and their 13-year-old daughter, and was buried in a cemetery in Guarapari on 21st February.
Her sister said: “I was in that hammock too, it could have been me, but God saved me and took my sister. We are seven siblings and everyone is shaken by what has happened. It’s unbelievable all this, we’re still processing it.
“She was a very happy person, always thinking of others and helping everyone. She never stood still and did nothing. We cling to our faith in God now.”
