A four-year-old girl died after a dressing table fell on her in a school playroom just hours after celebrating her birthday with her twin brother and classmates.
The accident happened on 5th August at the Kennedy Unit of Colegio CEV in Teresina, Brazil.
Little Alice Brasil Souza da Paz and her twin brother had both turned four the previous day and returned to school on Tuesday to celebrate with classmates.
Picture shows Alice Brasil Souza da Paz, undated. She died in a school in Teresina, Brazil, on Aug.05, 2025. Note: Private photo taken from social media. (@dayana.brasil.5/CEN)
Their parents stayed for part of the celebration before leaving for work.
A few hours later, the family say they were contacted by a teacher who said Alice had been in an accident.
Her mother, photographer Dayana Brasil, said: "This past Tuesday, we arrived in the morning with our daughter, alive and healthy, to celebrate with her school friends the birthday she shared with her brother.
"After the celebration, we said goodbye to our children and went to work.
"A few hours later, we were called and received the news that she had died at school."
Picture shows Alice Brasil Souza da Paz, undated. She died in a school in Teresina, Brazil, on Aug.05, 2025. Note: Private photo taken from social media. (@dayana.brasil.5/CEN)
Police said the fatal accident happened in the school playroom after another child crawled under a dressing table, causing it to fall.
Alice, who was lying on the floor nearby, was struck by the falling furniture.
Her twin brother witnessed the entire incident. The school stated that it is fully cooperating with the investigation.
Alice’s father, Army Major Claudio Sousa, said the family received conflicting explanations from the school and still had no clear account of what happened.
He said they were initially told a toy had fallen on Alice, but that version later changed.
Picture shows Alice Brasil Souza da Paz with her family, undated. She died in a school in Teresina, Brazil, on Aug.05, 2025. Note: Private photo taken from social media. (@dayana.brasil.5/CEN)
The family described the trauma of burying Alice the following day, which was also Major Sousa’s birthday.
He said: "My gift was to bury my daughter.
"We lost our daughter in the place where she should have been safe and protected. We don't want revenge.
"We want justice so that no other child goes through what our Alice went through."
The parents also expressed concern for their surviving son Arthur, who saw the entire accident unfold and had shared every moment of his life with his sister.
The father said: "How am I supposed to explain to a four-year-old that his sister, who shared everything with him since the womb of my beloved wife, is gone?
Picture shows the dressing table that fell on Alice Brasil Souza da Paz, undated. She died in a school in Teresina, Brazil, on Aug.05, 2025. Note: Private photo. (CEN)
"He saw it all, witnessing a scene no child or person should ever have to see."
The school has suspended all activities for the week and released a statement expressing condolences and confirming psychological support is being offered to families, staff, and the wider school community.
The case is being investigated by the Child and Adolescent Protection Unit, led by Chief Hugo Alcantara.
(Mike Leidig / newsX)