Fabio Rigol
Brazil- A Brazilian Homeless Man's Unconventional Abode
- A Life Upended
- A Nightly Sanctuary
- A Chance Encounter
- A Paranormal Paradise?
- Hope for Redemption
- A Life on the Streets
- A Lost Income
- A Hopeful Heart
A Brazilian Homeless Man's Unconventional Abode
Each morning, a mysterious figure emerges from a tomb in the Brotas cemetery near São Paulo, brushing himself off and venturing into the city streets to search for sustenance. This is not the introduction to a vampire tale, but the true story of Fábio Rigol, a Brazilian man who has spent the past 13 years living in a tomb.
A Life Upended
Fábio Rigol, 47, was evicted from his home for a common reason: a former office worker, he sought solace from a difficult reality in drugs. It is uncertain how long Rigol would have survived on the streets of Brazil if he had not found an extraordinary refuge.
A Nightly Sanctuary
For some time now, Fábio Rigol has spent his nights in the residence of an old friend—a friend who has long since passed away and is buried in a cozy tomb. In this very tomb, Fábio has found a nightly sanctuary.
A Chance Encounter
How Rigol initially stumbled upon the tomb is a mystery, even to him. It occurred on a dark and rainy night, most of which has been wiped from Rigol's memory. When he awoke, he found himself in the tomb and recalled asking for shelter from one of its occupants.
A Paranormal Paradise?
Rigol's hiding place was discovered quite by accident—locals noticed that the man disappeared into the Brotas cemetery every evening. Fábio's modest tomb, built to accommodate six, has not always been his permanent abode, but in his situation, being choosy was not an option.
Hope for Redemption
Rigol has not completely abandoned hope for a return to normalcy. He dreams of a proper home and a regular job and fears that he will eventually die alone with only the dead for company. Rigol is not afraid of corpses, having never encountered a ghost during his time in the cemetery. Loneliness and the realization that the living pose more problems than the dead are what truly trouble him.
A Life on the Streets
Rigol spends his days aimlessly wandering the city streets. He often visits "his" cemetery, reading the inscriptions on tombstones and searching for familiar names. He frequently witnesses funeral ceremonies, which do not improve his mood. Fábio prefers to see people alive and enjoying life—this is why he spends most of his time outside the cemetery.
A Lost Income
The days when Fábio could earn his own living are long gone. The company he once worked for went bankrupt, leaving him unemployed. This was a contributing factor to Fábio's drug addiction—it made his life more bearable, if only for a short while. Now, however, Rigol no longer uses drugs, primarily because he can no longer afford them. He relies on begging on the streets for sustenance.
A Hopeful Heart
The story of Fábio Rigol has touched the hearts of the local community. Some have offered him financial assistance or help in finding employment. Rigol believes that returning to the "world of the living" would be easy. He has overcome his addiction and is unlikely to return to it. Whether or not a good Samaritan will emerge in the city to help Fábio remains to be seen. For now, he will continue to return to his cozy tomb each night.
