Maria das Mercedes Rocha de Macêdo, aged 64, tragically passed away on Thursday morning in a lottery house located on Avenida Duque de Caxias in Teresina, Piauí. Eyewitness reports indicate that she was in line waiting for service when she suddenly collapsed due to an apparent health issue. The president of the Lottery Syndicate of Piauí, Maria dos Anjos, who is also a partner in the lottery house, confirmed that they provided assistance immediately, including calling emergency services and maintaining order until authorities arrived on the scene.

Despite the quick actions taken by the staff, the response was marred by the fact that it took over four hours for emergency services to arrive and the lottery house had to remain closed during this time. According to the 9th Battalion of the Military Police, by the time paramedics from the Urgency Mobile Service (Samu) reached the location, Maria was already deceased. This incident raises significant questions regarding the efficiency of emergency response in crowded situations and the safety measures in place for elderly customers in public service areas.

Following the incident, the Legal Medical Institute (IML) took charge of the body for a post-mortem examination to determine the cause of death, further investigation into the circumstances surrounding the event could prompt a review of health and safety protocols in similar establishments. The tragic event highlights the need for improved emergency response strategies to prevent such occurrences in public spaces, particularly for vulnerable populations, like the elderly.