Brazilian soap opera star Domingos Montagner has died after drowning in the river the show is named after.
‘Velho Chico’ is most Brazil’s most popular soap opera – named after the river in Sao Francisco province in which he drowned – and Montagner was its lead actor.
The 54 year old reportedly went swimming with a female co-star at the end of a day’s gruelling shoot when the incident happened.
Camila Pitanga, the female co-star, said Montagner had been dragged away by the currents, after the pair had chosen what they thought was a safe spot to swim.
Bizarrely, it is reported that as she cried for help, people failed to respond as they thought it was a scene from the show that was being acted out.
Pitagna “cried for help but local people failed to act initially as they believed the drowning was a scene in the soap opera.” the BBC writes.
Montagner leaves behind a widow, actress Luciana Lima, and three children.