The body of US singer Oliver Tree has been returned to California days after he died in a helicopter crash in Brazil that also claimed five other lives, his family announced on Instagram this week. The collision between two helicopters over Rio de Janeiro on June 15 triggered a fire at a vehicle dealership after one of the aircraft plummeted into its parking lot, Rio de Janeiro’s Military Fire Department reported, as investigators work to determine how the aircraft ended up in the same airspace.
A statement posted to the late musician’s Instagram account outlined plans to create Dr. Oliver Tree’s Extremely Epic Grant For Baby Geniuses as his final wish. The post noted that with his body now home he can finally rest while thanking fans for their support in these extremely difficult times. It closed with the line “Peace be with Oliver” and indicated the family had no further comments at present according to outlets that reviewed the message.
The Associated Press reported that Oliver Tree’s name appeared on the passenger manifest submitted to aviation authorities although initial identification of victims proved challenging due to the crash’s intensity. The New York Times cited a local police officer speaking anonymously to confirm the singer’s presence aboard one of the helicopters in the Recreio dos Bandeirantes area. Rio officials said five people were recovered from one aircraft and one from the other according to details shared with NBC News.
The Hollywood Reporter named the remaining victims as Argentine content creator Gaspar “Gaspi” Prim Díaz, video director Lucas Vignale, Lucas Brito Chaves and pilots Alexandre Souza and Charles Marsillac. A witness working as a tire repairman described seeing flames on one helicopter and a passenger jumping from another before impact in an account given to the AP. The falling debris ignited around 20 vehicles at the dealership with firefighters extinguishing the blaze shortly afterward.
Oliver Tree born Oliver Tree Nickell in Santa Cruz, California in 1993 had performed in São Paulo on June 6 during his world tour and posted an Instagram video the day prior showing him playing soccer locally according to CNN Brazil coverage. He had been set to perform in Lisbon on July 1 followed by September dates in Glasgow, Manchester and London all of which were subsequently canceled. The artist gained initial fame in 2016 via viral social media posts that showcased his distinctive bowl haircut and eccentric style.
His tracks such as “Life Goes On,” “Miss You” and “Alien Boy” built a following in alternative pop while his work extended into comedy and directing. Tributes circulated widely after the news with discussions on Reddit emphasizing his elaborate costumes and stage presence. Oliver Tree’s mother Christine Begin Nickell posted a Facebook message describing how her son made the world a better place as Entertainment Weekly reported.
The family engaged legal counsel to manage the return of his remains from Brazil a representative informed TMZ days after the June 15 incident with the process concluding earlier this week. This step enables them to move forward with arrangements in the United States. Brazilian authorities have not yet issued preliminary findings from their ongoing investigation into the collision’s cause as of June 22.
