A man has died after falling into his father’s grave when a gravestone reportedly gave way as he sat on it at a cemetery in Brazil.

Metro UK reports on Thursday that the incident occurred shortly after 2.30pm on Wednesday at Sao Jose Municipal Cemetery in Linhares, in the state of Espirito Santo, northern Brazil.

The man, believed to be around 40 years old, had visited his father’s grave before attending the burial of a friend who died in a traffic accident the previous day.

He reportedly sat on top of the gravestone, but it gave way, causing him to fall into the grave beneath.

Other cemetery visitors reportedly rushed to help after hearing a loud noise.

An ambulance was called, but the man was pronounced dead at the scene.

A gravedigger, Nazare Bravin, said the man arrived at the cemetery, asked where his friend’s burial would take place, parked his motorcycle and walked towards his father’s grave.

The victim has not been publicly named but was identified locally as the husband of a worker with the Linhares municipal council.