In a heart-wrenching incident in Limeira, São Paulo, Brazil, 38-year-old Elisangela Gazano lost her life in a tragic accident at her own wedding celebration. The newly married woman, who had exchanged vows with her partner the previous day, was celebrating her wedding and her daughter’s birthday at a rented country house when she accidentally slipped and fell into a swimming pool.

The incident occurred on a sunny Sunday afternoon, April 14, 2024, while Gazano, a non-swimmer, was dancing near the water’s edge. Eyewitnesses describe a sudden loss of balance that led to her falling into the pool, initiating a frantic effort by guests to rescue her. 

Despite their immediate response and the swift arrival of emergency services, Gazano,  a mother of five, went into cardiac arrest during transport to the hospital and was pronounced dead upon arrival.

Photos posted by her hours before the accident show her radiant in a white wedding dress, signing marriage documents—an image that starkly contrasts with the day’s tragic ending. These moments captured on social media were intended to share her joy, not foreshadow her untimely death.

Flavia Silva, the bride’s friend, expressed her shock and sadness in a poignant social media post: “I saw you recently at the market, so excited about your wedding. It’s heartbreaking how quickly joy turned to sorrow on the same day. Wherever you are now, I want you to know it was a privilege to have known you.”

The local police in Limeira have officially ruled her death as an accident. This has done little to mitigate the shock among family and friends, who remember her as a vibrant and joyful presence. One friend noted, “Your joy was contagious, your laughter was the best, and when you put it together with mine, everyone stopped to look at you.”

Elisangela Gazano’s funeral was held on Tuesday, April 16th.