Following a car accident en route to training, the son of a former Brazilian football star has been declared ‘brain dead.’
The 19-year-old Pedro Severino was seated in the front passenger position when their vehicle collided with a truck on a highway in Brazil.
Severino sustained a severe brain injury during the incident, which took place at 5:21 a.m. on Monday, March 4.
Despite the successful neurosurgical intervention at 10:50 a.m., he remains in critical condition. Later that evening, a physician announced him as ‘brain dead,’ although legal confirmation requires agreement from an additional doctor.
Severin’s father, Lucas Savarino, previously played as a striker for Bota Fogo and Atletico Paravanes in Brazil.
During the 2000 Summer Olympics, Lucas represented Brazil alongside notable players such as Lucio and Ronaldinho; however, he did not receive a full international cap.
Pedro Castro, an 18-year-old football player seated in the back of the vehicle, was also taken to the hospital following the incident.
At the time of the collision, the young athletes were en route to their club’s training facility in Atibaia, situated north of Sao Paulo.
A few hours after his arrival at the Americana hospital in Brazil, Castro was discharged with only minor injuries.
Despite undergoing breathalyzer tests, neither driver involved in the accident was found to be intoxicated.
The football players were returning from a visit to relatives in Ribeirao Preto. Severino was heading to his inaugural practice with the Red Bull Bragantino U20 team, which competes in the Brazilian Serie A.
A statement from the Dr. Waldemar Tebaldi Municipal Hospital indicated: ‘To confirm brain death, the patient must be evaluated by two separate physicians, with a minimum interval of one hour between their examinations, in addition to an apnea test and other supplementary assessments.
‘This procedure may take up to 24 hours following the initiation of the protocol at 4:30 PM. The hospital staff is offering comprehensive support to the family during this challenging period.’
A representative from Red Bull Bragantino remarked: ‘Since learning of the incident, the club has been diligently monitoring the players’ conditions and providing all necessary assistance.
