A 75-year-old man was found dead on Monday afternoon after going missing while collecting olives in Coimbra, confirmed by police sources.
The alert for the disappearance was sounded at around 3:30 p.m., and the body was discovered “a few minutes” later.
The incident occurred on Rua Senhor do Bonfim, in the União de Freguesias de Santa Clara e Castelo de Viegas, within the Coimbra municipality.
On-site were the Public Security Police (PSP), the Coimbra Fire Brigade, and the National Institute of Medical Emergency (INEM).
The authorities have stated that further “clarifications” will be provided at an “appropriate time”.
Speaking to reporters at the scene, Cláudio Gonçalves of the Coimbra Fire Brigade noted that the man disappeared around noon. The alert to authorities was given about three hours later after the man’s wife sought help from a neighbor.
“The presence [of the victim] was detected by the sound of his mobile phone. He was located in a thicket near his house in cardiac arrest,” stated Cláudio Gonçalves, quoted by Notícias de Coimbra.
Near the location where the body was found, operatives discovered an Asian hornet nest in an olive tree, but it is unclear if it is related to the cause of death.
When questioned, a police source could not confirm this information.
The Judicial Police have been called in.
