Antônio da Silva Morais, 64 years old, was found dead this Wednesday morning (10) in a forested area close to the Lontra River, in Araguaína, in the north of Tocantins. The elderly man had been missing since Saturday (6), when he left home to go fishing accompanied by three dogs.
The Tocantins Military Fire Department worked with land, water and air teams for three days. The searches were intensified after people found the fisherman’s belongings, such as his backpack and sleeping hammock, as well as two of his three dogs, on the banks of the river in Sector JK. The body, in an advanced state of decomposition, was approximately 150 meters from the bank, according to team reports.
Family already warned of health risk
The family informed the firefighters that Antônio had suffered a heart attack about 15 days ago. He had a habit of hunting and fishing in the region, activities he frequently carried out in rural areas. The recent history of a heart problem raised the teams’ concern since the start of operations, on Monday (8), after the son reported his disappearance.
Investigation seeks to clarify cause of death
The Tocantins Public Security Secretariat reported that the body was collected by the Legal Medical Institute (IML) of Araguaína. After an autopsy, the body was released to family members. The Civil Police registered the case at the 5th Service Center and are investigating the circumstances of the death, without ruling out any possibility at the moment.
Cases like this reinforce the risks faced by fishermen and hunters in forest areas in the interior of Tocantins, especially for elderly people with pre-existing health conditions. The integrated searches between firefighters, family members and local residents were decisive in finding the location in a relatively short time, despite the adverse vegetation conditions.
