Walewska’s widower speaks for the first time about her death: ‘My floor opened’

Widower of Walewska Oliveira, Ricardo Alexandre Mendes spoke for the first time about the tragic death of the former volleyball player. She died last week after falling from the 17th floor of the building where they lived. In an interview with the website UOL, he explained the reason for not going to the burial of his wife’s body in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, revealed how he received the news of her death and how their relationship was going after 20 years of marriage.

He said he received the news of his wife’s death through the condominium team. “I arrived home after an intense day of work, I didn’t know that Wal had already arrived. The intercom rang, I didn’t answer it. Then came the messages on Whatsapp from the condominium group, until the manager rang the doorbell at my house to warn me of the tragedy. My floor opened and I fell apart”, he told UOL.

Then, he told about the night before the tragedy and what the atmosphere was between them. “She questioned me that I was strange and distant, I replied that I couldn’t continue where there was no more love between a man and a woman. She became introspective, kept quiet and we went to sleep. We loved each other, I hoped she would accept the separation in a good way.“, said.

When talking about not going to her wake and funeral, he said he received information not to go. “They took away my right to say goodbye to the love of my life. I had an air ticket issued, a family friend said that her parents advised me not to go, to protect everyone from the climate of the tragedy.”he stated.

Walewska’s cause of death

Former volleyball player and Olympic champion Walewska passed away at the age of 43 on Thursday night, the 21st. She fell from the 17th floor of the building where she lived in São Paulo and her body was found on the first floor of the place. Rescuers were called to try to revive her, but she was pronounced dead at the scene. Now, the police are investigating the circumstances of her death.

According to the police, she left a farewell letter on a sheet of paper and also drank alcohol. The building’s cameras recorded that Walewska went to the 17th floor alone and entered the residents’ leisure area at 4:05 pm.