According to a source from the District Guard of Relief Operations (CDOS) of Guarda, the fire-fighters were called, at 8:46pm, to an occurrence which involved a victim that was in a wine press, in the town of Chãos.

"[The man] was treading grapes with family members, he felt bad and fell to the side," the source said.

Mêda Volunteer Fire Commander José Lemos told Lusa that, according to the Guarda Emergency Resuscitation Medical Vehicle (VMER) doctor, the death "was probably caused by sudden illness" and not by intoxication of the gases released during the wine fermentation process.

The official said that the man "was accompanied by relatives and when he fell they immediately removed him from the airy place"

The death was confirmed by the Guarda VMER doctor and the body will be transported to the Forensic Medical Office of that city to be autopsied.

At the scene of the accident were five vehicles and 12 elements from the Voluntary Fire-fighters of Mêda, GNR, VMER da Guarda and the Immediate Life Support (SIV) vehicle of Vila Nova de Foz Côa, CDOS said.