Child Killed After Tree Crashes Onto Home During Storm In Brazil

An eight-year-old boy was killed when a huge tree crashed onto his home and struck the bed where he was lying during a violent storm.

Wylliam Gustavo Barboza died in Vila Barranco in the northern part of Porto Alegre, the capital of Rio Grande do Sul state in southern Brazil, on 28 August.

The tree came down at around 9.30am as heavy rain and strong winds battered the city.

Firefighters said Wylliam was in bed when the trunk smashed through the house and struck his mattress.

His mother Cenira Barboza said she desperately tried to pull her son from the wreckage after hearing him call to her.

She said: "I tried to save him. He called me, I pulled his arm and he was still alive. But the tree was very heavy and I couldn't do it. I only managed to get the baby out."

Cenira suffered minor injuries and was taken to Porto Alegre's emergency hospital.

Wylliam's father received psychological support, while his four-month-old sibling was not injured, according to the city's health department.

Four people were believed to have been inside the property when the tree fell.

State Civil Defence said the tragedy was linked to the strong winds that hit Porto Alegre during the storm.

Officials had issued a high-severity warning at 7.24am for possible heavy rain, strong winds and hail across the Porto Alegre metropolitan region.

Winds of 59.4km/h were recorded in the city during the warning period, while around 30mm of rain fell over 12 hours.

Porto Alegre City Hall said the tree had been growing inside the property's yard and that there had been no previous request for it to be pruned or removed.

Officials added that the house was in an area of irregular occupation.

Wylliam had been given a new pair of trainers the day before his death and had planned to wear them on his first day at a new school.

Cenira said: "He had asked me for those trainers. I bought them to put in his coffin."

Wylliam's funeral was held at the Santa Casa Cemetery in Porto Alegre on 29 August.

(Newsflash)