The 99-year-old woman who survived the flood caused by a cyclone clinging to a grape vine, in Roca Sales, Rio Grande do Sul, died on Thursday afternoon (14).
Hospitalized since the 5th, when the rescue took place, Elma Clara de Souza, better known as Elma Berger, could not resist the weakening of her health after being submerged for eight hours, with only her head above the water. Her body was laid to rest this Friday morning (15), at Roca Sales City Hall.
According to family members, Mrs. Elma had kidney failure, which worsened as a result of hypothermia after being in the cold water for a long time. For the last ten days, she remained hospitalized at the Hospital Beneficente Santa Terezinha, part of the São Camilo network, in the municipality of Encantado.
“She had left the ICU and went to her room, but she got worse. She fought hard for her life and died heroically,” said her great-grandson Gustavo Souza.
Dona Elma was swept away by the current when the house she lived in was destroyed by the Taquari River flood.
The caregiver who was with her was also carried away by the waters, but managed to grab the elderly woman and take her to the supporting structure of the grape vineyard. The two spent the night in the water, clinging to the structure, and were only rescued around 9 am, when the occupants of a passing boat happened to hear their screams.
The elderly woman was taken by helicopter to the Encantado hospital. When she was recovering, she told family members that she had spent the night in the water praying and singing with her caregiver. Elma became one of the symbols of resilience of the people of Rio Grande do Sul to the tragedy caused by the cyclone, according to the mayor of Roca Sales, Amilton Fontana (MDB).
“We are saddened by this irreparable loss. The city continues to mourn, as 11 lives have been lost here alone and there is still one person missing,” she said.
Across the state, there have been 47 deaths and nine people missing, according to a bulletin released by the state government this Friday morning.
Relatives and friends attended the Chamber plenary to say goodbye to the elderly woman, who left behind four living children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. The wake would continue until 3 pm, with the burial then at the Roca Sales Catholic Cemetery.
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Source: CNN Brasil
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