Tragedy as skateboarder dies in freak accident falling off his board and hitting his head

A beloved skateboarder who tragically died after falling off his board on the Gold Coast has been remembered by loved ones as a ‘free spirit’. 

Raphael Vieira was riding at Pizzey skatepark, in Miami, on Tuesday when he suffered a serious brain injury after falling and hitting his head.

Mr Vieira, from Brazil, was rushed to hospital and placed into the intensive care unit, but despite doctors’ best efforts he could not be revived. 

The tragedy came just four weeks after his 25th birthday. 

Mr Viera’s childhood friend Luah Carmo, who is also now living in Australia, said Raphael’s family made the decision to donate his organs to help save others lives. 

Raphael Vieira (pictured) tragically died after suffering head injuries while skateboarding in the Gold Coast on Tuesday 

With his family stuck on the other side of the world due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Ms Carmo has launched a GoFundMe page to cover the costs of Mr Vieira’s funeral and cremation.  

‘Doctors performed numerous procedures and tried to contain the brain pressure with all possible resources but unfortunately our big guy’s brain injury was too severe,’ she wrote in the campaign. 

‘The doctors tried their best but nothing could be done to bring him back to consciousness.

‘Faced with this event, the family opted for an incredible gesture and have decided to donate his organs.’  

A single organ donor in Australia can save up to seven lives, according to DonateLife. 

Mr Vieira, originally from Curitiba, moved to Australia in 2017 and was a keen surfer and motorbike rider, according to his social media profiles. 

Tributes have begun pouring in online for the Brazilian expat, known affectionately to loved ones as ‘Rapha’. 

Friends in South America shared a photo of the message ‘Rapha, forever in our hearts’ etched into the sand in Portuguese at a local beach.  

‘One of the best vibe guys I’ve ever met, rest in peace brother,’ one friend wrote. 

Bruno Felipe said he woke up with a strange feeling on Thursday morning only to discover hours later his friend had passed away.   

The Brazilian national was rushed to hospital after suffering a head injury at Pizzey Skatepark (pictured) in Miami

Mr Vieira, known as ‘Rapha’ to loved ones, frequently posted of his adventures in Australia on social media 

‘I wish I could have written to you when I heard. I thought I was so strong with goodbyes, [but] I’ve seen myself crying nonstop since I received the news,’ he wrote on Facebook. 

‘Man, I’m very sad about what happened, but I promise you that this will pass and the good memories will be remembered.’

‘How huge his heart was and how light his energy was, he had no evil. As your father said, “Rapha has always been a free spirit.” And you always really were, right?’

‘I want to thank you for your friendship, for the learning you left here, for your way and for your light. Man, I’m sure your passage was light, calm and full of peace. Now you’re up there looking at us. I’m sure that in the next life, we’ll meet again.’ 

Relatives shared a poem by Saint Augustine titled ‘Death is Nothing’ about people  who pass away wanting their loved ones to refrain from sadness and instead remember they are still with them. 

‘All of us in the family believe that Raphael would like us to follow our lives according to this poem,’ his mother wrote. 

Mr Vieira had been living in the Gold Coast after moving to Australia in 2017. He is pictured during a trip to Sydney 

Loved ones in Brazil have shared a photo of a tribute inscribed on the beach Portuguese, which translates in English to: ‘Rapha forever in our hearts’

‘Raphael, love of our lives, you are and will always be here with us! We love you infinitely!’   

His brother said Rapha will forever be in our mind and hearts ‘forever’ while his aunt said she was still in shock he was gone.

‘I can’t believe it. Go in peace beloved nephew. You will be greatly missed. We love you,’ she said. 

Ms Carmo said the fundraiser, which has already raised more than $14,500 since it was set up on Sunday, would also go towards paying some of Mr Vieira’s medical bills.

‘The good news is that the health insurance that Rapha had will cover most of the medical expenses but not the entry into the emergency, which was $1,401.90,’ she said. 

‘We would appreciate anything that can help us to promote a passage full of peace and love for this amazing guy, who shared his journey with us.’  

In 2020, 1,270 Australian were saved through an organ transplant due to 463 deceased donors. 

The tragedy comes ten months after Sunshine Coast man Chris Pinto died after suffering critical head injuries while riding at Mudjimba skate park in November.  

A GoFundMe page has been launched to help Mr Vieira’s family cover the cost of his funeral and cremation

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk