Credit: Instagram
Authorities Issue Update On Oliver Tree’s Death As More Tragic Details Emerge
Authorities have issued an update on the passing of Oliver Tree as more devastating details have emerged.
The music world is mourning Tree after the singer-songwriter was killed in a devastating helicopter crash in Brazil at the age of 32.
Tree, whose full name was Oliver Tree Nickell, was among six people who died when two helicopters collided in mid-air over Rio de Janeiro on Sunday morning.
The American alt-pop artist, known for songs including Life Goes On, Miss You, Alien Boy, and Hurt, had been in Brazil as part of his ambitious international tour.
News of his death stunned fans across the world, particularly because the musician had been actively posting from South America in the days before the tragedy.
Many have since returned to his final social media updates, which showed him smiling, joking, and enjoying his first trip to Brazil.
Oliver Tree was in Brazil for his world tour
Tree had recently begun his World’s First World Tour, a major live project that was set to take him across dozens of countries.
He had performed in São Paulo, Brazil, on June 6, after playing in Buenos Aires earlier that week.
His next major stop was scheduled for Lisbon, Portugal, on July 1, before further European dates later in the summer, including shows in the UK.
The tour was expected to span around 70 shows across 30 countries, making it one of the biggest undertakings of his career.
Fans had been following his travels closely online, with Tree posting clips from performances, travel days, and behind-the-scenes moments.
Just one day before the crash, he shared a lighthearted video from Brazil that has since taken on a heartbreaking new meaning.
His final post showed him enjoying Brazil
In one of his final social media posts, Tree appeared alongside Brazilian influencer Iae Break.
The video documented what appeared to be Tree’s first 24 hours in Brazil.
He was seen riding motorcycles, eating local food, getting a haircut, playing soccer, and joking around with friends.
At one point, Tree held up a replica FIFA World Cup trophy and jokingly referred to himself as Neymar.
The video was captioned in Portuguese: “Gringo 24 horas no Brasil,” meaning: “Foreigner 24 hours in Brazil.”
After news of his death emerged, fans flooded the post with tributes.
Many said it was devastating to watch the singer laughing and enjoying himself so shortly before the crash.
Six people died in the crash
Reports per the Guardian indicate the collision involved two helicopters flying over western Rio de Janeiro.
One helicopter was carrying five people, while the second aircraft reportedly had only its pilot on board.
Tree was listed among those aboard one of the helicopters, alongside Lucas Brito Chaves, Lucas Vignale, Argentine YouTuber Gaspar Prim, known online as Gaspi, and pilot Alexandre Souza.
The second pilot, Charles Marsillac, also died.
One of the aircraft reportedly fell onto the parking lot of a car dealership, igniting a fire among parked electric vehicles.
Brazilian media footage showed flames and thick smoke rising from the crash site after the collision.
Firefighters later brought the blaze under control.
There were no survivors.
Tributes poured in from fellow stars
Following confirmation of the crash, tributes began flooding social media from artists, collaborators, and friends.
KSI, who worked with Tree on the track Voices, said he could barely believe the news.
“Can’t believe I’m actually having to type this,” he wrote.
“You’re 32 man. You should still be here. You still had so much life to live. So much music to make. So much content to make.”
He added: “You’re a legend and will always be a legend. Still doesn’t feel real. Genuinely feel sick. I love you bro.”
Jackass star Steve-O also paid tribute, describing Tree as a caring friend who regularly checked in on him.
“I was incredibly lucky to become friends with Oliver Tree,” he wrote.
“He would check in on me regularly, and let me know he cared about how I was doing. Such a great person… I’m going to miss him.”
Other tributes came from Kid Cudi, Bebe Rexha, T-Pain, Whitney Cummings, and Melanie Martinez.
Melanie Martinez shared an emotional message
Among the most widely shared tributes came from Melanie Martinez, who previously dated Tree.
The pair’s relationship had been closely followed by fans, and Martinez’s tribute struck an emotional chord online.
“Been an absolute wreck today,” she wrote on Instagram.
“It’s really hard to understand how someone who you once shared such a specific and formative time of your life with can all of a sudden be gone.”
She described Tree as having “such a soft heart” and called him “a true artist in every way.”
Martinez concluded: “Rest in peace Oliver. I know you’re making the angels giggle. I’ll be here wondering what stunt and creative project you’re scheming up in heaven. All my love.”
Fans praised the tribute as deeply moving and sincere.
His comments about death resurfaced
In the days after the tragedy, fans also began sharing a recent interview in which Tree discussed what would happen to his money after he died.
During an appearance on The Zach Sang Show, the musician said he did not believe his wealth truly belonged to him.
“I don’t believe that any of the wealth or things I get from it are mine,” he said.
“So when I die, my will is set up that no one is going to get a penny.”
Tree explained that he had created a foundation called Dr. Oliver Tree’s Art Grants for Baby Geniuses.
He said the foundation would use money generated by his music and art to fund future creative projects.
“The idea is that when I die, all the money is going to go back to artists,” he explained.
Tree also predicted that his work would likely be appreciated more after his death.
“My art will continue — and probably be worth more than it is now,” he said.
Those comments have now taken on a tragic new significance for fans.
Authorities issue update on investigation
Authorities have now confirmed that an investigation is underway into the cause of the fatal mid-air collision.
According to the Military Fire Department of the State of Rio de Janeiro, per the Independent, emergency teams were called to the crash site at around 9:00 a.m. local time.
Officials said one helicopter fell onto a dealership parking lot, setting fire to around 20 electric vehicles before firefighters extinguished the flames.
Brazilian aviation authorities and police are now investigating how the two aircraft came to collide over the Recreio dos Bandeirantes area in western Rio de Janeiro.
The BBC reported that authorities had not yet formally confirmed all victim identities at first, although Tree was listed on the helicopter manifest.
A police source said the victims could not immediately be formally identified because they were badly burned in the crash.
Authorities have said the cause of the collision remains under investigation.
The Civil Police and Brazil’s Center for Investigation and Prevention of Aeronautical Accidents are also involved in the inquiry, with forensic identification procedures underway for the six victims.
For fans, the official investigation may eventually explain how the tragedy happened.
But it will not change the heartbreak of losing an artist many described as wildly original, deeply creative, and impossible to replace.
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