Harrowing video shows influencer and husband clinging to their car during raging floods before being swept away to her death – minutes after haunting final social media post
This is the harrowing moment an influencer and her husband were swept away in raging floods, minutes after she made a haunting final post on social media.
Jeniffer Soares Martins, who had 81,000 followers on Instagram, was seen with her husband Wallion Lima at a car as water flowed past her after heavy rains hit Uberlândia, south of Brasilia, in Brazil in the early hours of November 24 .
That night, 55mm of rain fell in just 30 minutes, causing severe flooding in the city of more than 700,000 people.
Video footage taken from the city around 1am shows the 28-year-old influencer taking a silver car as water flows around her up to her waist. The woman taking the video can be heard yelling at the couple as the water rises.
Separate CCTV footage showed people in a nearby house trying to rescue the couple by pushing out a tall ladder.
But it extended only a few meters in front of the couple, meaning they couldn’t reach it without risking being swept away.
The tragic couple were eventually hit by the flood. A third clip showed an empty area where the couple was standing, with the water significantly higher than in previous footage.
Just before the flood, Martins shared videos of herself listening to music with the caption: ‘I’m becoming young again.’
Video footage taken from the city around 1 a.m. shows the 28-year-old influencer taking a silver car as waist-deep water flows around her and her husband
Jeniffer Soares Martins (photo) had 81,000 followers on Instagram and posted about fashion, lifestyle and makeup
She and her husband Wallion Lima (photo, left) were swept away in the floods
She was known for posting content on fashion, lifestyle and makeup.
After Soares was swept away, her husband found her unconscious and attempted to revive her with the help of firefighters on the scene.
She was reportedly dragged about 300 meters down the flooded street.
Her body was found around 1:25 am.
The influencer died of drowning and multiple traumas.
She was the first victim of the storm in the area. Her funeral took place at the Bom Pastor cemetery in Uberlândia at 5pm on the day she tragically passed away.
One family member said: ‘She was much more than an influencer, she was a ray of light and great fun at family and social gatherings.
‘Her emotion, joy and camaraderie made every moment special.’
Mayor Odelmo Leão said: “I stand in solidarity with the family and friends of the young Jhei Soares, who unfortunately lost his life early this Sunday due to the effects of heavy rain on Avenida Rondón Pacheco.”