Tiger shark bites 19-year-old girl and rips off her leg in Boa Viagem, Recife By Carolina Costa
4 min read
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A 19-year-old girl left the sea without her right leg after being bitten by a shark on Monday afternoon in Praia of Boa Viagem, in Zona Sul of Recife. The incident occurred at around 3:10 p.m. Marcela Vitória of Lima Santos was with family and friends when she was attacked. A cousin of hers, the vigilante Jonas André of Lima, entered the water and pulled her onto the sand. Ela was already seriously injured at the time of rescue.
Imagens recorded at the scene shows the moment when bathers and lifeguards helped the victim. A doctor passing by the beach provided the first care before the arrival of Corpo of Bombeiros and Samu. The young woman was initially taken to Hospital Alfa, in Boa Viagem. Depois it was transferred to Hospital from Restauração, in Derby. Lá she underwent surgery on Monday night. Her health condition is serious.
Primo describes desperate water rescue
Jonas André from Lima told Globo TV that he saw his cousin losing strength and decided to go into the sea to help her. Ele grabbed her arm and swam back, pulling her to the edge. Outras people helped as soon as they reached the sand. Marcela was missing his right leg when he came out of the water. The cousin said that the group was at the beach to have fun and drink broth when everything happened.
The victim lives in São Lourenço of Mata, in Grande Recife. Ela is a law student. Her parents were informed and were traveling to the hospital on Monday night. The attack took everyone by surprise in a section with signs warning about the risk of sharks.
Área of Boa Viagem has not registered cases since 2013
Conforme data from Comitê Estadual from Monitoramento from Incidentes with Tubarões (Cemit), the location of the attack had no record of incidents since 2013. Boa Viagem concentrates most of the historical cases on the coast of Pernambuco. Placas close to Padaria Boa Viagem warn bathers about the danger.
Swimming in the sea is not prohibited in the region. Authorities advise specific care. Frequentadores should avoid the sea at high tide and pay extra attention during periods of full moon. Outras recommendations include not wearing shiny jewelry and not entering the water with injuries.
- Evitar enter the sea during high tide
- Redobrar attention during full moon periods
- Não wear jewelry or shiny objects
- Não entering the water with injuries or bleeding
Segundo attack in less than 24 hours on Grande Recife
On Sunday (31), an 11-year-old boy named João Lucas Castor Nemezio Sales was bitten in Praia by Piedade, in Jaboatão by Guararapes. Ele had injuries to his left hand and thigh. His left leg also needed to be amputated. The boy arrived in very serious condition at Hospital from Restauração and underwent surgery. His condition was considered serious, but stable after the procedure.
The two cases in consecutive days draw attention to the presence of sharks in the metropolitan region. Cemit has been following these incidents since the 1990s. Especialistas points out factors such as water depth and environmental conditions that can bring animals closer to the shore.
Vítima underwent surgery on Restauração’s Hospital
Marcela Vitória of Lima Santos arrived at Hospital of Restauração at around 4:10 pm after initial stabilization. The medical team performed the surgical procedure on Monday. Até the closing of this report, there was no new bulletin on the evolution of her condition.
Bombeiros’s Corpo and Samu acted quickly on the spot. Equipes pre-hospital care provided care on the sand before transport. The case is the 84th recorded on the coast of Pernambuco since 1992, according to Cemit. Boa Viagem has 25 occurrences in the same period.
Safety Medidas is still recommended for swimmers
Autoridades reinforce preventive guidelines after the two attacks. The coast of Pernambuco demands constant attention from those who visit the beaches. Cemit monitors shark behavior patterns and issues alerts when necessary.
Moradores and tourists often frequent Boa Viagem and Piedade on sunny days. Recent incidents serve as a reminder of the risks present even in urban areas. Warning signs remain fixed at strategic points along the coast.
Hospital from Restauração is a reference for highly complex cases in the state. The unit received the two victims of the attacks in less than 24 hours. Surgical Equipes performed on both patients on consecutive days.
