A father of two was killed in a tragic accident after an illegal kite string wrapped around his neck and fatally slashed his throat while he was riding his motorcycle home from work in Brazil.
The victim, Cleuson Andrade Viana, 39, was travelling along Avenida Santana in the Paraiso neighbourhood on 30 June when the razor-sharp string struck him, causing catastrophic injuries.
Witnesses rushed to his aid after finding him sitting by the roadside with severe bleeding from his neck. They attempted to remove the string and stop the bleeding by applying pressure with a cloth while waiting for emergency assistance.
Despite desperate efforts to save him, Cleuson died about 30 minutes later. Medical reports later confirmed that he died from massive blood loss caused by deep cuts to his jugular vein and trachea.
Police have launched an investigation to identify the person who was flying the kite at the time of the incident. Authorities said the kite line recovered from the scene was coated with aluminium oxide or quartz powder, substances that significantly increase the line’s cutting ability and are prohibited under local laws.
Investigators believe the string was an industrially manufactured kite line, which is considered even more abrasive than traditional cerol, a glass-coated kite string already banned in many areas because of the danger it poses to motorcyclists and pedestrians.
Cleuson’s wife, Lenice Moreira, said her husband had left home in good spirits on the day of the tragedy and described him as a devoted husband and a loving father who always put his family first.
“He was an exceptional man, a caring father and my greatest support. He went to work happily that day, but he never came home alive,” she said.
The tragedy has left the family devastated, with Lenice calling for stricter enforcement against the use of illegal kite strings and urging parents to ensure children do not use dangerous materials that could put lives at risk.
Cleuson’s mother also appealed for justice, describing her son as a hardworking family man whose sudden death has left an irreplaceable void.
Police said investigations are continuing, and the individual responsible for flying the kite has yet to be identified.
