Brazilian Rodeo Queen, 22, Killed by Lightning Strike
Ana Beatriz Araújo Ferreira was in her mother's garden when a lightning bolt struck.
A 22-year-old Brazilian beauty queen and mother was fatally struck by lightning on Saturday while in her mother's garden.
Ana Beatriz Araújo Ferreira, known as "Aninha," was reportedly brushing her niece's hair outdoors during a rainstorm when the incident occurred. Her brother, César Augusto, described the weather as a "calm drizzle" despite the cloudy conditions.
Ferreira had just finished bathing her 5-year-old son and was tending to her niece when she was hit by the lightning. She was transported to a hospital in Almas but succumbed to her injuries.
Augusto remembered his sister as someone who was dedicated to helping others, stating she died "doing what she loved most, showing love through something simple." He added, "Aninha is and was one of the most beautiful people I’ve ever known."
Ferreira was a student at Unopar University, pursuing physiotherapy, and was a mother to a young son named Luiz Henrique. She had recently been crowned Queen of the Rodeo at ExpoAlmas, an annual agricultural and livestock fair in central Brazil. Organizers of the event expressed their condolences, noting that her "passing leaves a huge void among family, friends, and the entire community."