Colombian social media influencer Sofia Murillo, best known for her beauty and lifestyle content, has died at the age of 17 in a helicopter crash in Brazil over the weekend.
Murillo was traveling with her mother, Wendy Manrique, 37, and grandmother, Rocio Cubillos, 59, who also lost their lives when the helicopter crashed in Rio de Janeiro on Aug. 8.
The pilot of the aircraft, identified as Alessandro Rocha, was also killed in the crash, according to reports from Brazilian and international news outlets.
The family was visiting Brazil and on a sightseeing tour in a helicopter, which crashed in a wooded area near the Vista Chinesa overlook, a popular tourist location.
Emergency crews and military personnel responded to the scene, but the remote location and a fire that broke out at the site made rescue efforts difficult.
“The aircraft crashed in a very steep, wooded area with precipitous cliffs, where it is only possible to work using rope techniques and safety equipment,” Lt. Col. Fábio Contreiras told Brazilian outlet g1 in a statement.
“When we arrived, in addition to the helicopter, there was also a fire caused by the explosion of the aircraft’s fuel,” he continued. “That fire has now been completely extinguished.”
Relatives who were traveling with the family reportedly learned of the accident while waiting their turn at the helicopter facility for another tour.
“Now, our challenge is to find faster access routes to facilitate the work of the Civil Police and Cenipa forensics teams, as well as the future removal of the bodies,” Contreiras said. “We are working to make this happen as soon as possible.”
Murillo built a large social media following through beauty-related content, including makeup tips and cosmetic reviews. She had more than 250,000 followers across Instagram and TikTok.
Her final TikTok video, shared on Aug. 5, was flooded with followers and fans offering condolences and posting tributes in the comment section.
“You were one of the few who managed to boost my self-esteem with your advice. I’m going to miss you so much,” wrote one user.
“Sofi, there’s a party in heaven because you’re there,” wrote another. “We’ll miss you a lot.”
The investigation into the crash remains ongoing. Authorities are expected to examine the helicopter, flight conditions, and other evidence as they work to determine what caused the fatal accident.
The Epoch Times reached out to the Rio de Janeiro Military Firefighters Corps and Brazilian Defense and Air Attaché for further information on the matter, but did not hear back by the time of publication.
