Capixaba Gabriel Barbosa da Silva, 22 years old, drowned in a lake in the United States Reproduction/Family collection Gabriel Barbosa da Silva, 22, from Espírito Santo, drowned on Monday (15) in Lake Wakeby, in the city of Mashpee, in the state of Massachusetts, in the United States. Born in Águia Branca, in the northwest of Espírito Santo, the young man had gone out with friends to cool off after a day of intense heat when he drowned. According to his family, Gabriel had lived in the United States for almost three years and worked cutting trees. He left Espírito Santo in search of better opportunities and dreamed of building a better life for his mother, who faces health problems. The young man's cousin, Jeanderson Cândido Souza, told g1 that Gabriel worked in rural areas before traveling and decided to try a life abroad after the death of his grandmother, who raised him since he was three years old. "After his grandmother passed away, he found himself obliged to take care of his mother and provide a better life for them both. He said the situation was difficult in the countryside and he wanted to save money to return to Brazil in the future", said his cousin. According to his family, Gabriel was known for being a simple, hard-working and dedicated boy. In the United States, I worked practically every day of the week to save money and fulfill my dream of returning to Espírito Santo with financial stability. Jeanderson said that news of the death arrived in the early hours of the morning, through Brazilian friends who live in the region where Gabriel lived. "They said that, after work, he went to the lake with colleagues to cool off. They believe he was very tired and ended up drowning when he tried to return to shore," he reported. Jeanderson Cândido stated that his cousin knew how to swim and believes he fell ill when he tried to return to the lakeshore. Body transfer Now, the family awaits the release of the body by American authorities to begin the process of transporting it to Brazil. Without knowing the procedures and given the high cost of the operation, relatives and friends started a campaign to raise funds. "We just want to bring him home and say goodbye. He was a hard-working boy, who just wanted to take care of his mother and give his family a better life," said the cousin. According to family members, the expectation is to raise around R$50,000 to cover the international transfer and expenses related to the burial. Meanwhile, a friend of Gabriel's who lives in the United States helps the family contact local authorities and obtain the necessary documentation.