A Brazilian-American Jiu-Jitsu specialist tragically died after he fell from a wall and into Lake Como while attending a friend’s wedding there over the weekend.

The man has been identified as Octavio Couto. As per media reports, he was in Italy for a wedding on August 25 and was walking back to his hotel when he stopped to see the view over the lake at a wall.

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Who was Octavio Couto?

Octavio Couto was 52 years old. He was originally from Brazil. He was a jiu-jitsu teacher, referee, event organizer, and competitor. 

Couto, commonly referred to as “Ratinho,” excelled at Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. In 1993, he won the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Nationals, and in 1994, he won the Copa Atlantico Sul.

He had a third-place performance at the 2007 International de Masters e Seniors. His work as a coach and mentor to some of the best athletes in the sport.

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Fernando Terere, the Vieira brothers, and Felipe Costa are just a few of the sportsmen whose careers Couto is credited with helping to launch. Furthermore, he was essential in founding the Alliance Barra Academy, a prominent jiu-jitsu school that has produced several black belts since its founding in 1994.

Couto had returned to Tremezzo after taking part in a nuptial at the Villa del Balbianello, according to Italy 24 News. He was dropped off by a taxi boat at the destination and became separated from the rest of the company. While members of his group were sleeping at the Grand Hotel Tremezzo, Couto had accommodations at the Villa Carlotta shrine.

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It is assumed that he halted on his way back beside a wall close to the Villa Carlotta museum garden. He might have sat or laid down there, then fallen from the height of the wall. However, it is still not clear whether he was under the influence of alcohol or not, or he died from drowning or from a fall.