A man’s quest for a rumored treasure trove of gold beneath his home in Minas Gerais, Brazil, took a tragic turn as he perished in a 130-foot-deep pit he meticulously dug in his kitchen. João Pimenta, 71, fueled by a dream guiding him to hidden gold, spent over a year on the excavation, hiring workers and selling possessions to fund the endeavor.
Pimenta’s obsession, ignited by voices in his dreams, led to a deep hole comparable to a 12-story building. His commitment extended to paying workers escalating wages as the dig deepened, reaching around $100 per day. Despite warnings and pleas to abandon the pursuit, Pimenta persisted, even contemplating using dynamite to overcome obstacles.
The ambitious project took a tragic turn on January 5 when Pimenta, using a repurposed children’s swing, slipped on a wooden plank while exiting the pit, plummeting with his legs first. Antonio Wilson Costa, his assistant, could only witness the shocking descent. Authorities later discovered Pimenta with shattered legs and severe head injuries.
The investigation revealed Pimenta’s remarkable craftsmanship, creating a well-constructed pit without heavy machinery. Authorities marveled at the precision of his hand-dug tunnel, speculating on his undisclosed excavation experience. Luis Filipe de Miranda from the Minas Gerais Fire Brigade acknowledged the complexity of Pimenta’s work, describing the tunnel as resembling something “alien.”
Despite the meticulous effort, Pimenta’s pursuit of elusive gold turned out to be a fruitless and costly obsession, resulting in his untimely demise. The tale stands as a cautionary reminder of the consequences of unchecked determination and the boundaries between dreams and reality.
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