The raw testimony of a survivor of Brazil tragedy

January 30, 2013
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Pamela Vedovotto is one of the survivors of the tragedy unleashed on the nightclub “Kiss” in the state of Santa Maria, Brazil, where 234 people died in a fire.

Pamela remembers whom she called “guardian angel”, Rafael De Oliviera, a young man who rescued her but that regrettably he also died in the tragedy.

“I have no words to thank him,” said Pamela CNN. “If wasn’t for him I would be among all those people who died. He gave me a new life”.

She confirmed that the fire began when one of the members of the band playing on stage ignited pyrotechnics. Sparks reached the roof, where there was foam used as acoustic insulation.

Pamela began racing when she noticed the fire but was pushed against a railing unable to breathe. “A girl came under the barrier and everyone was pushing … she broke her neck and was dead on the floor,” said the student, sobbing. “Everyone was screaming, God get me out of here.”

At that moment Rafael helped her to scape from that sector. The young man put the dress in her mouth so she would not inhale the toxic smoke that filled the entire nightclub.

But when they reached the exit, got worse since security employees had closed the door, thinking that young people wanted to leave the place without paying.

“They opened the door again, but when they did it there were many people on the ground, screaming,” Pamela said.

But finally managed to get out with the help of Raphael. Although the young man decided to return in order to the rescue other people, a decision that cost him his life.

After a few days, Pamela went to the morgue where she learned that the young man who had saved her life was among those killed. She met his parents and asked forgiveness.

“I asked forgiveness for not prevent him re-enter … I could have caught, I could have stopped him,” said the girl in tears.

So far the courts have arrested two owners of the club and two members of the band whose fireworks started the fire.

Pamela said she did not feel sorry for them. “Everybody is dead, everyone is dead because of them … they should rot in jail, they did not lose anybody,” she said.