Singer Oliver Tree dies at 32 after helicopter crash in Brazil

Singer Oliver Tree has died following a tragic helicopter crash in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He was 32 years old.

According to Rio de Janeiro Civil Police, Tree was among six people killed when two helicopters collided in midair over the Recreio dos Bandeirantes neighborhood on Sunday morning. Authorities have opened an investigation to determine the cause of the accident.

CNN Brasil reported that Tree was traveling in one of the helicopters along with Argentine filmmaker Lucas Vignale, Argentine YouTuber Gaspar Prim, Lucas Brito Chaves and pilot Alexandre Souza. The second helicopter was carrying only pilot Charles Marsillac, who also died in the crash.

According to firefighters, one of the helicopters crashed into a parking lot used to store electric vehicles, triggering a major blaze that spread to around 20 parked cars. Thick black smoke could be seen across parts of the city as emergency crews responded to the scene.

Authorities said five victims were found inside one of the aircraft, while the second helicopter came down roughly 100 meters (330 feet) away. All six people on board the two aircraft were killed.

Who was Oliver Tree?

Born Oliver Tree Nickell in Santa Cruz, California, Tree became known for his eccentric public persona, distinctive bowl haircut and blend of alternative pop, rock and electronic music. He rose to international prominence with hits including “Life Goes On,” “Miss You” with Robin Schulz, “Alien Boy” and “Let Me Down.”

Tree had recently performed in São Paulo as part of his world tour and was scheduled to continue touring in Europe later this summer.

Among the other victims was Argentine content creator Gaspar Prim, better known as Gaspi. The 23-year-old built a large following through his street interviews and prank-style videos in Buenos Aires, becoming famous for his trademark greeting, “Buenas.”

The investigation into the crash remains ongoing.

Get closer to the game! Whether you like your soccer of the European variety or that on this side of the pond, our AS USA app has it all. Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more. Plus, stay updated on NFL, NBA and all other big sports stories as well as the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.

And there’s more: check out our TikTok and Instagram reels for bite-sized visual takes on all the biggest soccer news and insights.