Geralda Helena has mourned the death of her husband, Brazilian singer Rick Sollo, more than a month after his helicopter crashed in Santa Catarina.
Helena, 62, took to Instagram on Monday, October 26, to share a video of the musician and speak about her grief following the September disaster that claimed five lives.
In an emotional message, Helena wrote that heaven had gained him on September 21. She described him as having been perfect in everything he did on Earth and thanked him for 44 years of true love, adding that while the longing was immense, her love was greater still.
She added that she was left with a deep longing and an emptiness that words could not adequately explain.
Followers flooded the post with supportive comments. One internet user wrote that the idol was missed every day and wished him peace, while another asked God to comfort Helena and grant her strength to remain a dedicated family woman and warrior.
Helicopter crash in Santa Catarina
The fatal flight disappeared on September 21 after taking off from Porto Belo, a coastal town in the southern Brazilian state of Santa Catarina. The aircraft had been heading inland toward S茫o Joaquim, an elevated municipality in the Serra Catarinense mountain region.
Search teams located the wreckage a day later, on Tuesday, September 22, in the rural district of Santa B谩rbara, situated within the municipality of Urubici. Officials found the aircraft completely destroyed in the mountainous terrain.
The aircraft involved was a Bell 430 twin-engine light helicopter, built in 2001 by United States manufacturer Bell Helicopter. The model is widely used around the world for corporate and utility transport across varied terrain.
Victims aboard the flight
Sollo, who was 59, died alongside four other men on board. The victims included businessman Bruno Avelar, videographer Paulo Soares, pilot Ant么nio Roberto N贸brega de Ara煤jo and co-pilot Leopoldo Barros Teixeira. Officials confirmed that none of the five occupants survived the impact.
The tragedy triggered widespread grief across Brazil, where Sollo was celebrated as a prominent figure in sertanejo music. The genre, often described as Brazilian country music, is one of the country's most popular cultural forms, known for heartfelt storytelling and acoustic melodies.
Career and upcoming tribute
Born in 1966, the singer rose to national prominence as part of the acclaimed musical duo Rick and Renner. Over several decades, the partnership produced numerous chart-topping records and earned a dedicated nationwide following, establishing Rick as one of the leading voices in Brazilian popular culture.
Helena had previously reflected on her journey through mourning, remarking that the devastating loss had changed who she was. Despite her profound heartache, she has continued to honour the memory of their decades together.
Her reflections come as Sollo's long-time singing partner, Renner, prepares his first solo concert in tribute to his late colleague. The memorial performance will celebrate Sollo's life and musical legacy, providing fans an opportunity to remember the singer following the crash.
