Adilson Marsaro was attending a friend’s funeral in Brazil when the concrete structure at his father’s gravesite suddenly gave way.
LINHARES, Brazil — A 48-year-old man died after falling into his father’s grave when a concrete structure at the burial site collapsed beneath him while he was at a cemetery for a friend’s funeral, according to Brazilian authorities and local reports.
Adilson Marsaro died Wednesday, Oct. 21, at São José Municipal Cemetery in the Interlagos neighborhood of Linhares, a city in Brazil’s Espírito Santo state. Marsaro had gone to the cemetery for the burial of a friend or acquaintance who had died in a traffic accident the previous day. After arriving, he went to visit the grave where his father was buried.
Local reports said Marsaro sat on the concrete structure covering his father’s grave. The structure then gave way, causing him to fall into the burial chamber below. People nearby heard the collapse and alerted emergency services. Teams from Brazil’s Mobile Emergency Care Service, known as Samu, and the fire department were sent to the cemetery.
Emergency personnel found Marsaro dead when they arrived, according to reports. Firefighters recovered his body from the grave, and Brazil’s Scientific Police were called to conduct an examination of the scene. His body was then sent to the Regional Legal Medicine Section in Linhares for further procedures.
Nazaré Bravin, a gravedigger at the cemetery, told Brazilian media that Marsaro had greeted people after arriving and asked where his friend would be buried. He left his motorcycle and helmet near the burial area before walking toward his father’s grave. A loud noise was heard a short time later, prompting those nearby to investigate and call for help.
Marsaro was later mourned at the same cemetery where the accident occurred. Local reports said his wake was held Thursday morning in the cemetery’s mortuary chapel. Family members and friends expressed their grief but largely declined to discuss the circumstances publicly.
Linhares City Hall issued a statement expressing condolences to Marsaro’s relatives and friends. The city said municipal workers are responsible for cleaning and maintaining common areas in public cemeteries, while individual families are responsible for maintaining graves and tomb structures.
The city also urged visitors to use additional caution at cemeteries as Brazil approaches All Souls’ Day on Nov. 2, when larger numbers of people are expected to visit burial grounds. São José is one of Linhares’ major cemeteries and contains thousands of graves.
Officials have not publicly determined why the structure at Marsaro’s father’s grave failed. Available reports do not establish whether the concrete was damaged, deteriorated or otherwise unsafe before the accident, and authorities have not publicly assigned responsibility for the collapse.
Brazil’s Civil Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding Marsaro’s death. As of Oct. 24, authorities had not announced a final investigative finding or disclosed whether the collapse could lead to any administrative or legal action.
Author note: Last updated October 24, 2026.