Archive · 5 Aug 2026
Man Miraculously Survives as Tree Crashes Inches Away in Rio
A big storm hit the city of Rio de Janeiro in Brazil.
The wind was so strong that it blew down a very large tree.
The tree fell right next to a man who was walking on the sidewalk.
A security camera caught the whole scary moment on film.
The man, whose name is Renato Ferreira, was lucky to be standing in a tiny gap between the tree and a pole.
The tree and the pole fell just a few centimetres away from him.
He only got a small scratch on his arm.
Other people nearby quickly rushed over to help him.
Renato said it was a miracle that he was not badly hurt.
Sadly, the storm caused a lot of damage and two other people lost their lives because of it.
CCTV footage captured Renato Ferreira narrowly escaping when a massive tree and utility pole crashed down beside him during a windstorm in Rio de Janeiro.
The incident occurred on the afternoon of July 29 in the Tijuca neighbourhood, near Praça Saens Peña on Rua Soares da Costa.
Ferreira, a 35-year-old businessman who owns a pet shop, escaped with only a minor scratch on his arm.
The survivor described it as a miracle, saying there was "less than a hand's breadth" between the tree and the utility pole where he had been standing.
The storm brought wind gusts exceeding 100 kmph, killed at least two people in separate incidents, and caused widespread disruption across the city.
- Who
- Renato Ferreira, a 35-year-old businessman who owns a pet shop
- What
- A massive tree and utility pole crashed inches away from him during a windstorm, and he survived with only a minor scratch
- When
- On the afternoon of July 29
- Where
- Tijuca, a neighbourhood in Rio de Janeiro's North Zone, near Praça Saens Peña on Rua Soares da Costa
- Why
- Strong winds exceeding 100 kmph uprooted a large roadside tree as Ferreira walked along the pavement
- Survivor
- Renato Ferreira, 35-year-old businessman
- Location
- Tijuca, Rio de Janeiro, near Praça Saens Peña
- Date
- July 29, afternoon
- Injury
- Minor scratch on his arm
- Wind gusts
- Exceeding 100 kmph
- Fatalities
- At least two people died in weather-related incidents
- Survivor's quote
- "Less than a hand's breadth" between him and the fallen tree
- Video
- Went viral after being shared by RT