Ana Beatriz Araújo Ferreira, a 22-year-old physiotherapy student and reigning Queen of the Rodeo in Almas, Brazil, died Saturday, October 3, after being struck by lightning in her mother’s garden during a family lunch.
What Happened
The strike occurred around 3 p.m. under light rain and cloudy skies, as Ana Beatriz — known to family and friends as “Aninha” — sat in an outdoor area of her mother’s property combing her niece’s hair near a wash tub and several trees. She had just finished bathing her five-year-old son, Luiz Henrique, and sent him inside moments before the lightning struck.
“The day was cloudy with a very calm drizzle,” her brother, César Augusto, told CNN Brazil, describing how suddenly the strike happened.
Her sister, Lana Letícia, recounted the moment: “She was combing my niece’s hair when the bolt hit. In the backyard there are several trees. It hurts so much to say. She was gone right there when she received the discharge.”
Ana Beatriz’s niece also fainted in the incident and was hospitalized in Dianópolis, but was discharged the following day. Ana Beatriz was rushed for emergency treatment but suffered cardiac arrests along the way and did not survive. The lightning strike was powerful enough to also damage household lights and an antenna on the property.
Remembering Aninha
Ana Beatriz had recently been crowned Queen of the Rodeo at ExpoAlmas, an annual agriculture and livestock fair organized by the local rural union, and was in her first term studying physiotherapy at Unopar University, balancing her coursework with caring for her young son.
Her godmother, Marcella Batista, remembered her as a devoted, family-oriented mother who was always present — visiting her own mother, caring for her sisters, and finding joy in simple things like styling hair and cooking.
Her brother, César Augusto, said she died “doing what she loved most, showing love through something simple,” and shared a tribute to her online: “Aninha is and was one of the most beautiful people I have known in my life. Thank you for those 22 years of us. You live on in your son, in our story, and in a love that will never end.”
The Almas Rural Union, organizers of the ExpoAlmas fair where she had recently been crowned, honored her in a statement: “Her departure leaves immense sadness in everyone who had the privilege of knowing her.” ExpoAlmas organizers echoed that sentiment, writing, “Her passing leaves a huge void among family, friends, and the entire community that had the privilege of knowing her. In this moment of grief, we stand in solidarity with her family and friends, wishing them strength and comfort to face this irreparable loss.”
Funeral and Investigation
A wake was held at the family’s home before Ana Beatriz was buried on Monday, October 5, at the town cemetery — a date that coincided with her sister’s birthday.
Civil police at the 100th precinct in Almas are investigating the circumstances surrounding the lightning strike.
Survived By
Ana Beatriz is survived by her husband, Luiz Felipe, her young son, Luiz Henrique, and her parents and siblings. The community in Almas continues to mourn the sudden loss of the young mother and local figure.
