Rescue teams continued searching for 19-year-old Roberto Farias Thomaz after he went missing while hiking in Pico Paraná State Park near Campina Grande do Sul in the metropolitan region of Curitiba. The young man was last seen on the morning of 1 January after he and a friend entered the park to watch the New Year sunrise.
Search intensifies for missing hiker Pico Paraná
The Corpo de Bombeiros launched an operation on the morning the disappearance was reported, and expanded the effort the following day. Captain Dubas said roughly 20 personnel were working on Friday, including members of the GHOST unit who were deployed to the area identified as the most likely to yield a live recovery.
According to officials, Roberto became unwell during the descent from the park’s highest point. His friend reported that he was unable to maintain the group’s pace and later informed rescuers after leaving the trail to seek assistance at a farm at the park’s base. The friend and other hikers returned to search but were unable to locate him.
The park’s terrain is demanding in places, with steep sections, cliffs and points that require the use of ropes and fixed pitons. After several hours of searching, the Corpo de Bombeiros advised hikers to withdraw from the area to avoid creating additional casualties and to allow trained teams to continue the operation.
Roberto’s family were notified in the afternoon following contact from the emergency services. His sister, Renata, said she learned of the disappearance at 17:00 and travelled to the park immediately. “We have no information. I was told yesterday by the Corpo de Bombeiros and came straight away,” she said.
Capt. Dubas confirmed that the search was extended with further resources and personnel on the second day of operations. He said teams focused on a zero point where conditions suggested there was a higher likelihood of finding Roberto alive. Specialist units remain on site and the operation continues under the direction of the Corpo de Bombeiros.
The missing man held qualifications as a safety technician. Authorities have not disclosed any further personal details while the search is underway and next of kin have been kept informed through official channels.
Local officials and rescue coordinators are urging anyone who may have been in the park around the time of the incident, or who has information that could assist the search, to contact the Corpo de Bombeiros immediately. Given the difficult terrain, rescuers are emphasising that volunteers should not attempt their own searches without proper equipment and training.
As daylight permits, teams continue systematic grid searches and use all available assets within the park. The operation is ongoing and officials expect to provide updates as soon as new information becomes available.
(With information from RIC)
Key Takeaways:
- Search operations continue for a 19-year-old who went missing at Pico Paraná after feeling unwell following a sunrise hike.
- Corpo de Bombeiros deployed specialised GHOST teams and about 20 personnel, expanding the operation with additional resources.
- The terrain is steep with fixed anchors and ropes; fellow hikers and the missing man’s family have been involved in the response.
- Authorities urge caution on the trail and ask anyone with information to contact the Corpo de Bombeiros.
