A Brazilian man who rescued four children from a huge inferno in a tower block fell to his death just seconds before he could be rescued by fire fighters himself.
Horrifying video footage has emerged that show the seconds leading up to the death of Ricardo Pinheiro, who had just pulled four kids from the fire in a former office block in Sao Paolo on Tuesday.
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The 39-year-old had rushed back into the building to try to reach residents on the upper floors who were still trapped, but the building suffered a collapse while he was inside and came down around him in a fiery cloud.
It is thought that rescuers were just half a minute from being able to rescue him, reports the Daily Mail.
Footage shows firefighters attempting to get him into a harness before the building fell down around him.
49 people are still listed as missing after the building - which was reportedly largely occupied by squatters - went up in flames and then collapsed.
One of the Sao Paolo Fire Department's Officers at the scene, Sergeant Diego Perreira da Silva Santos said that fire crews tried their hardest to rescue the heroic man, but they were just too late.
Pinheiro had lived on the building's ninth floor for several years and was helping out because he knew his way around the building well.
Santos told the Daily Mail: "I could hear him screaming for help. My first visual contact with the victim was when we reached the 15th floor of the neighbouring building.
"He had stabilised himself by holding onto the steel cord of the lightning rod, with his leg well supported."
He continued: "It was very dark, but it's almost impossible for me to forget what he looked like,
"We went up a few more floors onto the roof and I used a small axe to break the wall separating us. I anchored the metal base then tried to pass a safety harness three times before he caught it.
"I told him to put the cord around his body and to pass it underneath his arms twice. He did this. Then I instructed him to support himself by putting his leg through another harness attached to the rope.
"I assured him that we were going to get him out. I told him to stay calm and he stopped screaming."
However, just before he could be rescued the building finally succumbed to the fire and collapsed, taking Pinheiro with it.
Santos said: "It was just as we finished this phase that unfortunately the building collapsed. The rope dropped with the building and we believe burning rubble and hot embers fell on him,' lamented the fire officer.
"If we had 30 or 40 seconds more I'm positive we would have pulled him to safety."
It is thought that Ricardo was a father of seven who worked as a truck unloader for about £10.50 per day. His nickname was tattoo, because he was covered in ink.
Officer Santos added: "First he came out carrying four children in his arms. He left them at the door, then ran back inside straight away. It was so quick,"
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A friend of Pinheiro's, Cosme Alexo da Silva, said: "What he did was amazing. He didn't have much, but he was prepared to give his life for others. To us he is a real hero."
An investigation into the cause of the fire has been started.
Featured Image Credit: PATopics: south america, Fire, Brazil