The body of Ana Paula Silveira Cardoso, a 29-year-old photographer who was missing, was located on July 30, 2026. Confirmation was given by the Secretary of Public Security of Paraná (Sesp), Colonel Hudson Leôncio Teixeira, who detailed that the discovery occurred in the well of a waterfall in Sapopema.
Ana Paula disappeared on July 25, 2026, while hiking with a friend in Salto das Orquídeas. She slipped and was carried away by the current. Her friend, Ana Carolina Camilo, also lost her balance, but managed to save herself, being hospitalized with a spinal fracture.
The secretary informed that the process of removing the body is expected to take around three hours. The identification of the victim was carried out using images.
“Now, the entire pericil procedure will be carried out to verify the cause of death, whether it was just due to drowning, trauma from the fall, whatever,” said Teixeira.
According to firefighters, the area where the photographer disappeared is characterized by rapids, waterfalls and three waterfalls, set in dense forest on the Lajeado Liso river. On the date of the disappearance, the water level was approximately 40 centimeters above normal, which added a significant challenge to search operations.
Around 30 professionals, including firefighters and volunteers, worked on two search fronts, one going up and the other going along the river. The team also used drones to scan the area and had support from an aircraft.
This news is in the process of being updated and new information will be included as it becomes available.
Details about the disappearance of the young photographer
Ana Paula, who lived in Londrina, in the North of Paraná, worked as a photographer and was on a walk in Salto das Orquídeas on the day she disappeared.
During the tour, she and her friend decided to go to a viewpoint and tried to cross the river with the help of ropes. However, the water was rough due to the rains that had recently occurred in the region.
While crossing, Ana Paula fell, and her friend, when trying to help, also ended up falling into the water.
Valdir Camilo, Ana Carolina’s father, reported that his daughter managed to save herself by clinging to one of the rocks that were not submerged. She remained isolated in the forest, 500 meters from the crash site, from 3 pm on July 25, 2026 until approximately 9 am on July 26, 2026.
Ana Carolina was found by an employee from Salto das Orquídeas, who was carrying out her routine check of the river level, and was rescued with the assistance of two military police officers.
The photographer’s friend received medical care and remains hospitalized in Cornélio Procópio. The family confirmed that Ana Carolina suffered a spinal fracture as a result of the fall.
