Young man dies after being found in a pool during a rave in Rio de Janeiro

A 28-year-old man died after being found unconscious in a swimming pool during the Terratronic electronic music event, which took place in Guaratiba, in the West Zone of Rio de Janeiro, this past Sunday (14).

Lucas Dantas was a former army sergeant and currently worked as an app driver. Last Sunday (14), Dantas was participating in a rave with friends, when he walked away from the group for a few minutes. Shortly afterwards, he was found unconscious in the event's pool. According to the Terratronic team, organizers of the festival, Lucas was rescued, but could not resist and died.

The victim's family alleges that there was negligence in providing assistance on the part of the rave organizers. In an interview given to CNN Daiana Pimentel, Lucas's aunt, states that the app driver would have spent around 20 minutes unconscious underwater until he was found.

According to the aunt, the former sergeant's family only found out about his death through social media. Until then, the festival team would not have contacted family members to communicate what had happened.

A CNN , Daiane also said that Lucas went to the event with some friends. At around 6pm, he was found submerged, already lifeless, in the pool. According to the aunt, the body was already purple when it was removed from the water.

After removal, the body would have been placed on a stretcher and taken to the event nurse. During the journey, the team providing assistance would have even let Lucas' body fall to the ground.

For the family, the young man had already died after being removed from the pool. According to them, the Terratronic team only sought out them to obtain information regarding Lucas' medical report. Until the end of the day of the incident, the festival had not offered any type of help or financial support to the family.

The family members allege that, just this Monday (15), one day after the incident, Terratronic sought out the family members and, this time, offered help to cover possible expenses.

What the event organizers say

In an official statement published on social media, Terratronic, organizer of the event, confirmed Lucas' death during the festival. According to them, the young man died at Pedro II Municipal Hospital, where he was taken.

According to the company, Lucas still showed vital signs when he was rescued:

“The boy who participated in one of our events was admitted to the Medical Center weakened, but showing vital signs, and was promptly rescued and removed by the mobile ICU to the hospital unit, where he died.”, says the note.

In a second statement, Terratronic states that the festival took place with the necessary documentation and with several assistance services available on site during the event.

“The Terratronic team clarifies that the event held last Sunday 04/14/2024 took place with all the necessary documentation required by public bodies, meeting the entire number of service providers required by legislation, highlighting that throughout the period the event had with lifeguards, firefighters, medical station, ambulance, doctor, nurse and security guards.”, guaranteed Terratronic.

What the authorities say

According to the Rio de Janeiro Municipal Health Department, the management of the Pedro II Municipal Hospital reported that Lucas did not survive and, unfortunately, died. As stated in Dantas' death certificate, death was due to mechanical asphyxiation due to immersion in liquid.

In a statement, the Civil Police of Rio de Janeiro reported that the case was registered at the 36th Police Station of Santa Cruz and remains in progress to determine the circumstances of the death.

Lucas' wake and burial are scheduled to take place this Wednesday (17), at 3 pm, at the Corte 8 Cemetery, in Duque de Caxias.