A young child in Brazil now has to face life alone after her parents were killed in a paragliding accident. Her father, a paragliding instructor, had recently charted the same course without any issues. Details are still emerging, but a possible reason for the incident hasn’t been revealed. Authorities had evidently posted warnings in the area of the accident to encourage people to take proper safety measures. More information about the girl and what will happen to her in the aftermath of her parents’ deaths remains unknown.
On the afternoon of August 8, 2025, Luan Calor Cannelas Gomes da Silva, 29, and his former partner, Vanessa do Nascimento Alves, went paragliding at Niteroi City Park, the Daily Mail reported. The park overlooks Guanabara Bay, which sits along the Atlantic Ocean.
Even though the couple were no longer in a romantic relationship, they shared a 3-year-old daughter. They remained on good terms, which is why da Silva invited Alves to join him on the trip. They had no idea they weren’t going to survive. Only five days before their paragliding accident, da Silva did the same jump from Niteroi City Park with at least two other people.
Footage taken at the scene showed rescue teams searching for the pair in a steep, wooded area, according to the U.S. Sun. A helicopter hovered above as firefighters navigated the hillside.
According to the Rio de Janeiro State Military Fire Department, it was called at 12:57 p.m. and an ambulance was sent to Charitas Beach. Both parents were declared dead at the scene.
Those who knew da Silva said he was a cautious and careful pilot, avoiding flying in poor conditions, the Sun reported. After the paragliding accident, all of the local ramps were suspended. Signs put up on the closed roads near the launch site reminded people to make sure they were hiring licensed pilots. Details about what caused the crash have yet to be released.
