A MUM says her bodybuilder son died heartbroken from a stroke after his beloved cat passed away.
Ricardo Nolasco dos Santos, 31, reportedly suffered a week of “emotional distress” after the passing of his pet, Baku, before collapsing into seizures and being rushed to hospital.
In a heartfelt post online, his mum Iva Nolasco said: “I understand our Baki departed because there’s no way a world can exist where you two aren’t together.”
Ricardo, known as Kadu Santos online, gained popularity for his punishing gym routines where he offered his 13,000 followers advice on how to keep in shape.
The 31-year-old tragically died on October 20 just days after getting engaged to his personal trainer girlfriend Sabrina Wollman.
His mum revealed he died of a stroke and lung infection, which she claims were triggered by the passing of his beloved pet cat.
It’s understood the gym-buff — and 11-time bodybuilding champion — was also born with a bicuspid heart valve instead of a tricuspid one — a form of heart disease, which can prove fatal.
Recalling the devastating night her son was first rushed to hospital, Iva said: “His blood pressure rose and he decided to go out for dinner with his partner and friends to try to relax a bit.
“He complained of a headache, started having seizures and then suffered the stroke.
“In hospital he was diagnosed with a brain lesion where the haemorrhage had occurred.
“With the effort for the lungs, the heart became insufficient.”
In a heartbreaking post online, Sabrina described her time with Ricardo as “the best four years of my life”.
She said: “If I had known that our end in this life would be this, I would do it all over again because these were the best four years of my life and I know they were yours too.”
Concluding her emotional tribute, she added: “We’ll see each other in the next life, my love.”
Friends and fans have remembered the strongman for his “incredible” dedication to fitness.
Fellow bodybuilder, Diego Wiegand, said: “Today, heaven is certainly celebrating. Kadu was a person who was completely out of the ordinary, incredible as an athlete, coach, and even more so as a person.
“It is with great sadness that I say goodbye to you today.
“It is very difficult to accept, and I still haven’t come to terms with it, but you have left a legacy here on earth and will always be remembered by everyone for the man you were! I love you, brother.”
As well as competing in bodybuilding shows, Ricardo worked as a trainer and online consultant.
He died in the southern Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul and his funeral took place on October 21 in Novo Hamburgo on the outskirts of the city of Porto Alegre.
His tragic death comes just weeks after bodybuilder Valter de Vargas Aita, 41, was killed in a blood-soaked frenzy in the Brazilian town of Chapecó, in Santa Catarina state.
Police say wife Andreia Carvalho Aita pounced on Valter as he slept, plunging a kitchen knife into his jugular, head, arms, legs and torso.
Bleeding heavily, the five-time state bodybuilding champion tried to escape but collapsed in the stairwell, leaving a trail of blood.
Cops said: “She believed that her partner had been having sexual relationships with other people for several months before the crime and, on more than one occasion, made clear her desire to kill him because of this.”
Carvalho Aita allegedly drilled holes in the couple’s apartment walls to spy on him, photographed him while he slept, and bombarded him with threatening messages — often ending with knife emojis.
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