Fatal burn accidents claim lives of Brazilian police lieutenant and young man

A 45‑year‑old lieutenant of the Military Police, Gedilson José de Lima Santos, died in Araguaína, Tocantins after suffering severe burns while frying fish at home. He was hospitalized for more than a month at the specialized burn centre in Anápolis, Goiás, but succumbed to complications on Sunday, March 3. Santos had served 20 years in the police force.

In a separate incident in the rural settlement of São Romão, Baraúna, Rio Grande do Norte, 24‑year‑old Vitor Emanuel Costa da Silva died after a house fire burned his entire body. He was asleep after drinking alcohol when the blaze broke out. Neighbours broke a wall to reach the bathroom where he lay. He was taken first to a local hospital, then transferred by ambulance and helicopter to specialized burn facilities but died en route. Police are investigating the cause of the fire.