WATCH: Ex-Chelsea and Atletico Madrid forward Diego Costa helps rescue 100 people from floods in Brazil | OneFootball

Former Atletico Madrid and Chelsea forward Diego Costa was a hero in plain clothes this weekend, after he helped rescue people in the Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul from floods.

The state was hit by floods that have claimed the lives of at least 67 people, and 101 more are reported missing. An estimated 69,000 have been left without homes, and 13,000 more are in refuges. The state has a population of 11 million people, and 421,000 homes are without electricity still. 115 cities are also without phone and internet services.

According to Cadena SER, Costa returned from training and asked one of the Gremio supporters in the area, the club he plays for, how he could be of use. After it was explained to him where the people in need were, Costa jumped in his Jeep and collected his jetski, then began ferrying people stranded by the floods to safety. He also roped in four of his friends (and their jetskis) to the task, and between them, they ended up saving around 100 people in total.

“I’m 56 years old and I travel with Geral (the Gremio fan) for everything. What Diego did today, I had never seen before. He arrived a few months ago, left his truck in the water and took his jet ski and those of his friends,” said one of the people involved.

Costa joined Gremio in February, and has been enjoying himself, scoring six goals and giving an assist in his 10 games so far, coming in to replace Luis Suarez. The 35-year-old spent last season at Botafogo.