A family-of-four have been found dead in their flat from suspected carbon monoxide poisoning.
Relatives grew concerned while waiting for Danilo and Rose Mary, aged 34 and 33 respectively, and their children Daniel, 11, and Ana Clara, 15, to arrive for lunch.
Danilo’s sister, Damiana Rezende de Oliveira Ribeiro, called and messaged her brother but received no reply.
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Worried, another family member rushed over to check in on their relatives.
“They weren’t arriving and weren’t answering calls or responding to messages,” Damiana said.
“That’s when my brother-in-law decided to go to their apartment and force the door open.”
After gaining entry to the fourth floor flat, the relative found his family members unresponsive and called the police.
Authorities said that when they arrived, they found the mum and kids dead on the living room floor and the dad lifeless in the bathroom.
Damiana said she fainted when she heard the news.
Officials believe carbon monoxide leaked from a gas heater in the family’s kitchen.
Lt Alexandra Lopes of the Fire Brigade said: “They probably turned on the heater to warm the water.
“Instead of venting the gas outside, it was all going into the apartment.
“The duct wasn’t in the right place, which shows that whoever installed it didn’t know what they were doing.”
The incident took place on Sunday (11 August) in Uberlândia, Brazil.
She told local media: “I never imagined something like this would happen.
“August is already a tough month because it marks the one-year anniversary of my mother’s passing.
“Now I only have my husband and daughter left.
“It feels like a nightmare I wish I could wake up from.”
Danilo and Rose Mary owned a painting business, as reported by Need To Know.
The victims were laid to rest on Monday (12 August).
Damiana said: “These were dreams cut short.
“My nieces and nephews were just two innocent kids.
“I still can’t believe it.”
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