Elderly man in Piauí goes viral for remaining seated during sand whirlwind

José Borges, an 80-year-old man known as Zezé, has become a social media sensation after a video captured him sitting calmly in a chair while a powerful sand whirlwind passed around him in Picos, Piauí.

The footage, recorded on October 11 by his nephew, has amassed over 1.3 million views. Borges had sat outside his home to enjoy a breeze after lunch, but the light wind rapidly intensified into a strong dust devil within two minutes.

Borges explained his decision to remain seated was driven by fear that attempting to stand up might cause him to be swept away by the wind. After the whirlwind subsided, he reported being covered in dust and dirt before heading inside to wash.