Hero footballer Diego Costa helps rescue 100 people affected by floods in Brazil

Former Chelsea and Atletico Madrid striker Diego Costa has helped rescue 100 people from devastating floods in the region of Brazil where he now plays.

The 35-year-old used his jeep and jetski to assist with transporting people trapped by the floods to safety and also summoned friends to help the efforts.

The natural disaster affecting the Rio Grande do Sul has caused the death of at least 83 people and injured 276 while another 111 remain missing, according to CNN.

The region's Civil Defence said at least 121,000 people had been displaced by the floods.

Costa, who now plays for the Brazilian club Gremio, was driving home from a training session when he encountered a group of people from Eldorado do Sul looking for help.

The footballer didn't hesitate to act, making his jeep and jetski available for rescue efforts. In addition, he mobilised four more friends who brought jetskis, Cadena SER reported.

Videos on social media showed Costa driving the jeep along flooded roads, with reports saying the group helped to bring 100 people to dry land.

'What Diego did today, I had never seen before. He only arrived [at Gremio] a few months ago, but he left his truck in the water and took his jetski and those of his friends,' said a witness.

The Brazil-born former Spain international played for Wolves during the 2022-23 season before signing for Botafogo in Brazil.

He moved to Serie A club Gremio in February - replacing Luis Suarez - and has since scored six goals in 10 appearances.

Days of heavy rain triggered massive flooding and landslides in Brazil's southernmost state, with the extreme weather caused by a rare combination of hotter than average temperatures, high humidity and strong winds.

Roads and bridges have been destroyed in many areas, with at least half a million people without power and clean water.

The storms hit more than half the state's 497 cities and caused the collapse of a hydroelectric dam near the city of Bento Goncalves, leading to 30 deaths.

Brazilian president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva visited the region to promise government aid.