World
Investigation launched after teen dies at Brazilian Jewish community centre
A 14-year-old died on Friday evening after a goal post reportedly fell on him while playing with friends
February 8, 2023 16:37
A 14-year-old died on Friday evening after a goal post reportedly fell on him while playing with friends
February 8, 2023 16:37A 14-year-old boy has died after a goal post fell on him at São Paulo's Hebraica club on Friday, Brazilian media reports.
The teen, who has been named as Alexandre Andrei Mirocznik, had been playing with four friends on one of the club’s sports grounds, and as he swung backwards and forwards while hanging onto the goal post, the metal beam fell reportedly onto him.
Surveillance camera footage shows Mirocznik’s friends immediately removing the collapsed post, with firefighters and security officers arriving shortly afterwards, prior to medical staff reaching the scene, according to The Jewish Telegraphic Agency
The teenager was then rushed to the local Hospital das Clínicas where he was treated in intensive care, but he died shortly after.
The 54,000 square metre premises in the Brazilian city's Jardim Paulistano neighbourhood is a major meeting point for its 60,000-strong Jewish community - the largest in the country.
The teen's death is currently being investigated as possible suspicious by the city's 15th Police District, according to CNN Brazil, and the Civil Police of São Paulo has appealed for witnesses and reviewed recordings on Monday.
Fernando Rosenthal, the club’s president, wrote in an internal message to Hebraica employees: “This is perhaps the most difficult moment experienced by our institution, and one of the most difficult of my life.”
He also hit out at social media commentary of the incident: "There is nothing to identify that the accident could have been caused by a maintenance problem, as some irresponsible people have written on social media."
Following the incident, the club, which hosts a cinema, swimming pool, tennis courts along with a synagogue and a day school, postponed all “festive activities” and lowered its flag to half mast.
Central Brasileira de Notícias reports that the football pitch where the incident occurred is not currently in use.
The club which opened in 1953, is often described as the largest Jewish club in the world, boasting more than 22,000 members. It hosted Israeli president Shimon Peres during a 2009 visit to the city.