In a tragic turn of events, 71-year-old Joao Pimenta da Silva from Brazil met his demise while pursuing a belief in buried treasure beneath his kitchen floor.
The Ipatinga resident lost his balance and fell down the massive shaft he had diligently dug in search of the elusive gold.
According to neighbors in Minas Gerais, Joao had developed an obsession with the idea of hidden gold on his property.
His fixation stemmed from a vivid dream where he envisioned himself as the owner of a substantial fortune.
Over the course of a year, he dedicated himself to excavating the hole and even hired help to assist in the relentless pursuit of his dream.*
Sadly, his ambitious venture came to a tragic end when he plummeted down the hole he had meticulously dug, resulting in his untimely demise.
He said: “He began by paying 70 Brazilian Reais (£11.30) a day when the hole was still shallow but the deeper he went the more the costs went up.
“He ended up paying around £80 to anyone who entered the hole and helped to remove earth.
“He had hit a large stone that appeared which was difficult to remove and there were rumours he had been talking about trying to get hold of dynamite.”
Reports reveal Joao believed in the existence of gold beneath his kitchen floor, guided by a ‘spirit’ encountered in a dream.
Despite warnings from a concerned neighbor about the perils of his quest, Joao remained steadfast in his mission.
The heart-wrenching incident unfolded in Betania, where firefighters received an urgent call around 1:30 pm on January 5, reporting a fall of approximately 130 feet at Joao’s residence.
Despite their prompt response, the emergency services were unable to rescue Joao, and his life was regrettably claimed by the tragic fall.
