Adilson Marsaro was visiting his father’s burial site during a trip to the cemetery for another funeral when the structure collapsed.
LINHARES, Brazil — A 48-year-old man died after falling into his father’s grave when part of the burial structure gave way beneath him at a municipal cemetery in southeastern Brazil, according to local authorities and news reports.
Later reports identified the man as Adilson Marsaro. The accident happened on Oct. 21 at São José Municipal Cemetery in the Interlagos neighborhood of Linhares, a city in 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. While there, he went to visit the grave where his father was buried.
Local reporting said Marsaro sat on the concrete structure covering the grave before it suddenly gave way. People nearby heard the collapse and went to see what had happened before emergency services were called. The precise reason the grave structure failed has not been publicly established.
Teams from Brazil’s Mobile Emergency Care Service, known as Samu, and the fire department responded to the cemetery. Emergency personnel found Marsaro dead at the scene. Firefighters removed his body from the grave, and forensic authorities were called to examine the site. His body was then sent to the regional medical examiner’s office in Linhares for further procedures.
Nazaré Bravin, a gravedigger at the cemetery, told local media that Marsaro had greeted people after arriving and asked where the other burial would take place. He left his motorcycle and helmet nearby before walking toward his father’s grave. People at the cemetery heard a loud noise a short time later and called for help after discovering what had happened.
Linhares City Hall issued a statement expressing condolences to Marsaro’s family and friends. The municipality said its workers are responsible for administering public cemeteries and maintaining common areas, while families are responsible for cleaning and maintaining individual graves and tomb structures.
The city also urged visitors to take additional care at cemeteries ahead of All Souls’ Day on Nov. 2, when more people are expected to visit burial sites. São José Municipal Cemetery is the largest cemetery in Linhares, with local reporting placing the number of people buried there at nearly 18,000.
Authorities have not publicly said whether deterioration, damage or another structural problem caused the grave covering to collapse. Reports also have not established that any person or organization was responsible for the failure, and no final finding about the circumstances of the accident has been announced.
Brazil’s Civil Police said the circumstances of Marsaro’s death would be investigated. As of Oct. 26, authorities had not publicly released a final investigative conclusion about why the structure failed or announced any resulting legal or administrative action.
Author note: Last updated October 26, 2026.