A 19-year-old footballer has been declared brain dead after he was involved in a horror car smash en route to his first training session.
Pedro Severino was in the front passenger seat when the vehicle he was travelling in collided with a lorry on the motorway.
The crash happened at 5:21 am yesterday (4 Mar) and he was taken to the hospital with a critical head injury.
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Another footballer, 18-year-old Pedro Castro, was in the back seat and was also taken to hospital.
Severino underwent neurosurgery at 10:50 am.
The procedure was successful but his condition remained critical.
A doctor declared him brain dead later that evening, but a second doctor must agree in order for his death to be legally confirmed.
Severino is the son of former striker Lucas Severino, who played for Botafogo-SP and Athletico Paranaense.
Lucas played for Brazil alongside ex-Barcelona and AC Milan star Ronaldinho at the 2000 Summer Olympics.
Castro was discharged a few hours after arriving at the hospital in Americana, Brazil, with minor injuries.
The teenagers were on their way to their club’s training centre in Atibaia, north of Sao Paulo, Brazil, when the crash happened.
Both the car and lorry drivers were breathalysed but were not found to be under the influence of alcohol.
The footballers were returning from Ribeirão Preto, where they had been seeing family.
Severino played for the Red Bull Bragantino U20 team and was en route to his first training session with the club.
Red Bull Bragantino is based in Bragança Paulista and the senior team competes in Brazil’s top-tier Série A.
Pedro Severino scored four goals in the Copa Paulista in 2024 while playing for Botafogo-SP.
He became the team’s top scorer in what was his first official competition, as reported by Need To Know.
The Dr Waldemar Tebaldi Municipal Hospital said: “For brain death to be confirmed, the patient must undergo a clinical exam by two different doctors, with at least an hour between their assessments, as well as an apnoea test and other supplementary exams.
“This process could take up to 24 hours after the protocol was started at 4:30 pm.
“The hospital team is providing full support to the family during this difficult time.”
A Red Bull Bragantino spokesperson: “Since being informed of the incident, the club has been closely monitoring the players’ condition and providing all the necessary support.”
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