Man Dies After Two-Hour Wait for Ambulance in Catalão, Goiás

Rafael Vinícius Silva de Souza, a 35-year-old man, died on a street in Catalão, Goiás, after seeking help from neighbors and waiting approximately two hours for an ambulance. Security camera footage shows Souza appearing disoriented, knocking on doors, and asking residents to call for emergency services. Witnesses reported he was unable to clearly articulate his distress but urgently requested an ambulance. He eventually collapsed on the sidewalk. Neighbors made numerous calls to emergency services, including the police and fire department, but were reportedly told that all available ambulances were in use or responding to calls in other municipalities within the region served by Samu, which covers 18 cities. The Fire Department stated that a rescue unit was dispatched immediately after the first registered call at 10:23 PM, but acknowledged potential technical issues or inconsistencies with some phone carriers making calls to the emergency number difficult. The preliminary suspicion from the Scientific Police is exogenous intoxication from narcotics, pending further laboratory results expected in 30 to 60 days. The Public Prosecutor's Office in Goiás is investigating the circumstances surrounding the delayed emergency response.