A MAN has died after falling down a 130-ft hole he dug under his kitchen floor after dreaming he had gold buried under it.
João Pimenta da Silva, 71, lost his balance and plunged down the equivalent of 12 stories into the shaft he excavated.
Corpo de BombeirosJoao Pimenta da Silva plunged down this 130-ft hole on his kitchen floor after losing his balance[/caption]
Corpo de BombeirosThe 71-year-old believed there was gold hidden under his home in Brazil[/caption]
Neighbours said the pensioner had become obsessed with the idea there was gold buried in the area under his property in Minas Gerais, Brazil.
Arnaldo da Silva told local media: “ João had spent more than a year digging the hole and hired many people to do the excavating work.
“He began by paying £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.”
Arnaldo said Joao claimed to have been told by a “spirit” in a dream there was gold under the rock below his kitchen floor.
Yhe beighbour said he tried to warn him of the dangers of his mission but was ignored.
The tragedy that led to the gold-digger’s death happened on January 5.
Firefighters confirmed they received a call around 1.30pm that day to a house in the neighbourhood of Betânia after the owner suffered a fall of approximately 130ft but were unable to do anything to save him.
Extraordinary photos of the hole, which was around 35 inches in diameter and went down the equivalent of around 12 floors, have been published in the Brazilian press.
Local reports said the victim is believed to have slipped and plunged to his death from a wooden platform near the top of the hole as he tried to exit it following work to remove water and mud.
A friend he was working with was unable to save him.
His body was removed by the emergency services.
João was found to have suffered head injuries and broken legs as well as other fractures.
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