[UAH] BRAZIL MAN KILLED BY COW FALLING THROUGH ROOF

Brazilian man killed by cow falling through roof

João Maria de Souza is crushed as cow grazing on hill behind home in Caratinga steps on to asbestos roof above his bed

Agencies in São Paulo

• guardian.co.uk, Sunday 14 July 2013 16.00 BST

Cattle are herded in southern Brazil. De Souza's death in Caratinga was said to be the third such incident in recent years. Photograph: Alexandre Meneghini/AP

A man was killed in his sleep when a cow fell through the roof of his house in south-eastern Brazil and crushed him to death, according to local police.

João Maria de Souza, 45, and his wife were in bed when the one-tonne cow – which had been grazing on a hill behind the house in the town of Caratinga – stepped on to the asbestos roof, causing it to collapse. De Souza remained conscious and was taken to a local hospital, but died of internal bleeding on Thursday, the officer said.

According to local reports, it was the third such incident in recent years. In one case a baby and a small child narrowly escaped being crushed when a cow landed just next to them

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Gwokto La'Kitgum