A Ukraine war volunteer has died in a paragliding accident shortly after returning home from the front line.
Thiago Ohlson collided with a tree during a manoeuvre on Saturday (17 Jan) afternoon.
Emergency responders, called to the scene by witnesses, could only confirm his death.
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He suffered multiple fractures to his legs, left arm, and skull, as well as a traumatic brain injury.
The accident occurred at the Mirante da Praia Vermelha in Penha, in Brazil’s Santa Catarina state.
Ohlson was an experienced paragliding pilot and instructor, living and working in the area.
He had returned from the Ukraine-Russia war in November, where he had served alongside the Ukrainian Army, as reported by Need To Know.
He documented his daily life in the conflict for his 34,000-plus Instagram followers, sharing the challenges and dangers of combat.
One post read: “There were moments when everything had to be fast – during an extraction, there was no margin for error.
“With kamikaze drones nearby, it was total focus and fear running through your body.
“If an enemy FPV spotted us, only God could save us. If it hit one of us, we were all lost.
“In the end, we all returned safe and smiling, but behind that smile was the terrified look of someone who had spent days in the wilderness – pure adrenaline, constant vigilance, and deep exhaustion – just wanting a hot shower and sleep.”
Ohlson also shared his love of life outside the battlefield.
In his final Instagram post, he wrote: “I love surfing, I do my paragliding flights, I enjoy watching the sunrise, finding a quiet place to drink wine and be alone.
“The best part of all this is that I enjoy my own company, just being with myself.
“While some try to understand, I keep living. While the world rushes by, I breathe.”
Authorities have not yet disclosed the cause of the accident.
Storms had been forecast for the day, with a cold front combining with heat and humidity to create conditions for lightning, heavy rain, possible hail, and gusty winds.
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