Brazilian singer dies from second heart attack in a year

Famed Brazilian singer Renatinho died unexpectedly last week after suffering his second heart attack in a year, according to Globo News. The 48-year-old was best known for being the lead vocalist of BokaLoka, a music group specializing in the sub-Samba genre of Pagode. 

Renatinho reportedly suffered the heart attack during a show in Rio de Janeiro Wednesday and was rushed to the hospital, where he was transferred to the National Institute of Cardiology. He was pronounced dead Thursday afternoon. 

"It is with great regret that we announce the death of the singer Renatinho, lead singer of the group BokaLoka, this afternoon, as a result of a cardiogenic shock due to an acute myocardial Infarction,” said BokaLoka in a statement. 

“Renatinho was hospitalized at the Lourenço Jorge Hospital and was transferred to the National Institute de Cardiologia, in Rio de Janeiro, to undergo a procedure to identify obstruction of the coronary arteries. His death was confirmed at 5:38 pm today. The samba community is in mourning and at this time we ask for a lot of prayer and strength for his family, friends and fans of the artist.” 

Renatinho suffered his first acute myocardial infarction in May 2022 while in Paris for the band’s European tour. 

"Renatinho will always be remembered as one of the great names of Pagode in the 90s, making history in Brazilian music,” one netizen commented on the singer’s death. 

The unexpected tragedy comes amid an apparent increase in sudden deaths among young people, including those caused by cardiac events. 

Last week, mainstream media were forced to respond to allegations that the COVID-19 vaccines are causing these sudden maladies after 24-year-old NFL player Damar Hamlin collapsed mid-game from a cardiac arrest.  

Corporate media outlets decried those who made the connection as “exploiting” Hamlin’s emergency, which news outlets had done with unvaccinated deaths throughout the pandemic. 

Instead, they diagnosed Hamlin with commotio cordis, a condition which affects 10-20 people per year and is so rare that it was described by one cardiologist as "so incredibly rare, it’s like winning the Powerball or getting hit by lightning twice.”