Man dies after being accidentally pinned by overweight partner

What began as an ordinary night in a quiet Porto neighbourhood ended in a tragedy so rare, even seasoned investigators called it “unusual.”

The Daily Mail, quoting Portuguese newspaper Correio da Manhã, reported that the incident occurred at the couple’s home in Campanhã, Porto. While the report was published on August 12, 2025, it did not mention the exact day the incident took place.

In the early hours, a 59-year-old man was fatally pinned beneath his partner after she slipped while getting out of bed. He had been lying close to the wall on the floor when she tumbled, accidentally trapping him in a position that cut off his breathing.

Neighbours, jolted awake by her frantic screams, rushed into the room.

It took five men to lift her off him,” one neighbour told local reporters. “We were pulling, shouting, trying everything, but it was too late.”

Emergency responders arrived within minutes, but resuscitation efforts failed. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police confirmed there was no foul play

It’s been categorised as an accidental asphyxia,” a police source said. “It’s a very unusual death, but there was no criminal intent. It was a stumble by the woman as she got out of bed and tried to move closer to her partner, who was lying on the floor, that led to what happened.”

The couple had been together for years, though never formally married. Friends described them as “inseparable,” often seen at the same corner café sharing coffee and conversation.

“She’s completely shattered,” another neighbour said quietly. “She keeps saying she wishes she could take his place. No one should have to carry that kind of guilt.”

Authorities say the woman is receiving psychological support to help her cope with the shock and grief.

For locals, the tragedy is a reminder that even in the most familiar spaces, life can change in the blink of an eye.