A 22-year-old Brazilian footballer has passed away following three weeks in a coma after being struck by a stray bullet.
Joao Victor da Silva Santos, widely known by his nickname Vitao, died yesterday at Alagoas State General Hospital in his hometown of Maceio, located in north-eastern Brazil’s Alagoas state.
He had been receiving intensive care treatment since the shooting occurred on January 11.
The former Cruzeiro youth midfielder represented the club in the Under-17 squad, one of the most decorated in Brazilian football history and the largest in Latin American football.
The fatal incident took place while Vitao was attending celebrations marking the anniversary of Palma Alagoana, a local football club in Maceio that belongs to his uncle.
During the event, he was critically wounded when a stray bullet struck him.
The circumstances surrounding the shooting remain largely unclear, with local media reporting limited details about how the incident unfolded.
What is known is that the young midfielder sustained injuries severe enough to require immediate admission to intensive care, where he remained in a comatose state until his death three weeks later.
A 22-year-old Brazilian footballer has passed away following three weeks in a coma after being struck by a stray bullet
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He was not playing professional football at the time of the tragedy.
Parma Alagoana, where Vitao competed for their seven-a-side team, released a statement expressing profound sorrow at the loss.
They also included a photograph of the player.
The tribute read: “It is with great sadness that the Parma Family expresses its solidarity at this time of profound grief over the loss of athlete Vitao.”
Parma Alagoana released a statement expressing profound sorrow at the loss
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Parma Alagoana
It continued: “His story, his dedication, and his smile will remain forever etched in the memory of all who had the privilege of knowing him.
“May God comfort the hearts of his family, friends, and teammates, giving them strength to face this irreparable loss.
“Vitao is gone, but his legacy lives on among us.”
Vitao’s time at Cruzeiro spanned from 2019 to 2021, during which he made 33 appearances for the youth setup and found the net once.
Cruzeiro has not yet issued any public comment regarding his death
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GETTY
His spell at the Brazilian Serie A club saw him train alongside players who have since risen to prominence.
These include current Cruzeiro goalkeeper Otavio Costa and Vitor Roque, who now features for Palmeiras and has earned caps for the Brazilian national team.
Following his departure from Cruzeiro, the midfielder took the next step in his career by making his senior professional debut with Sao Bernardo, a club competing in Brazil’s third tier.
Cruzeiro has not yet issued any public comment regarding his death.
