A Brazilian social media influencer who previously dated Manchester City footballer Kerolin Nicoli has died after a car crash aged 27.
Rafaela Del Bianchi died when the car she was travelling in overturned on a motorway in São Paulo during the early morning of October 3.
The women's football content creator suffered fatal injuries after being ejected from the vehicle in the crash on the Lix da Cunha Highway near Campinas.
She leaves behind an 11-year-old daughter, Julia, who has become the focus of heartfelt pledges from Nicoli to provide ongoing support and care.
Rafaela Del Bianchi posted on social media hours before her death
|Brazilian authorities confirmed that Del Bianchi was not restrained by a seatbelt at the time of the collision, which occurred at approximately 5am.
The São Paulo Public Security Department reported that she had been returning from an evening out at a nightclub when the fatal crash took place.
Her companion, who was behind the wheel and properly secured with a seatbelt, sustained only minor injuries in the incident.
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Emergency responders discovered the vehicle completely overturned at the scene.
Local police have initiated a formal investigation to determine the precise circumstances that led to the accident.
The tragedy unfolded just hours after Del Bianchi had shared photographs and videos on her Instagram account during her night out.
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Kerolin Nicoli shared images in her tributes to Rafaela Del Bianchi
|Nicoli expressed her grief through deeply personal Instagram posts, writing: "It's blackkkk... The sky is partying right now! I love you and I'll love you forever, thank you for being a light in times when I needed it to be, thank you for being tough when I needed you to, thank you so much."
The Manchester City striker, who was romantically involved with Del Bianchi from 2022 to 2023, made a commitment regarding Julia's future.
"Like we talked about and it will always be like this, I love you forever, FOREVER. And of your little cutie, now more than anything, she'll be ours, I'll take care of you and us. I love you for eternity," she wrote.
In a subsequent Instagram message, Nicoli reflected on the permanence of their bond despite the tragedy.
She wrote: "Even though we know that one day life will end, we are never prepared to lose someone. Today heaven gained a piece of what I loved most on Earth."
Kerolin Nicoli and Rafaela Del Bianchi dated between 2022 and 2023
|Del Bianchi had cultivated a following of over 29,000 across her social media platforms, where she documented her fitness routines and motherhood journey.
The influencer frequently featured in posts alongside Nicoli during their relationship, which ended in 2023.
"Nothing will erase what we live. Our love doesn't end here it's just moved places," Nicoli concluded in her tribute.