‘Lovely soul’: US musician Oliver Tree killed in helicopter crash in Brazil

American singer and comedian Oliver Tree has died in a helicopter crash in Brazil on Sunday, which also killed five others on board. He was 32.

Two helicopters collided over Rio de Janeiro on Sunday morning (Sunday night, AEST) and crashed in the city’s western zone, killing all six people aboard, the Associated Press confirmed.

Tree, who is famous for blending his own stunts into performances and the global hit song Life Goes On, was killed while on tour in Brazil. He was slated to perform in Australia in October as part of a world tour, with shows booked for Sydney’s Enmore Theatre, as well as Melbourne’s Forum, and shows in Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide.

Rio de Janeiro’s Military Fire Department said that one of the helicopters crashed in the yard of a car dealership, where several electric vehicles were parked, igniting a fire that was extinguished.

Police said that Tree was on the list of passengers handed to aviation authorities, but they had not been able to identify the bodies of those killed in the crash. An investigation is under way to determine the cause of the collision.

Argentine streaming channel Blender said that content creator Gaspar Prim Díaz — also known as Gaspi — was in one of the helicopters. He had more than 2.8 million followers on YouTube and was 23.

Tree performed in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on June 4, and published a video on his Instagram on Saturday showing him playing soccer in a Brazilian neighbourhood.

Fernandes de Freitas, a tyre repair worker, said he saw one of the helicopters in flames following the midair collision, and noticed that one of the passengers jumped out of the other aircraft before it hit the ground.

“It was terrifying, absolutely horrifying,” De Freitas said.

Tree’s 2023 song Miss You with Robin Schulz was nominated for the international song of the year at the 2024 Brit Awards.

The alternative-pop musician had more than 11 million monthly Spotify listeners, and had just released his album Love You Madly, Hate You Badly in May after a three-year hiatus.

Schulz, a German DJ, uploaded a tribute to his Instagram story and shared
condolences to Tree’s family, friends and “everyone who loved him”.

“I can’t believe Oliver is gone,” Schulz said. “You were such a lovely soul and a one of a kind character. Working with you on Miss You was an honour.”

British internet personality and entrepreneur Olajide Olayinka Williams “JJ” Olatunji – better known by his online moniker, KSI – also uploaded an Instagram tribute.

“Can’t believe I’m actually having to type this. You’re 32 man,” Olatunji said. “You should still be here. You still had so much life to live. So much music to make. So much content to make.

“You’re a legend and will always be a legend. Still doesn’t feel real. Genuinely feel sick. I love you bro.”

with AP