An 11-year-old boy suffered severe injuries to his body when he was attacked by a shark on a popular beach in Brazil on Sunday. His uncle shared the boy’s heartbreaking plea as he was dragged out of the water
A young boy was seriously injured in a shark attack at a crowded, popular beach in Brazil on Sunday, losing his left leg during the incident, according to witnesses and footage from the scene.
The 11-year-old suffered severe injuries to the left side of his body when the shark struck him at the hip at Piedade Beach in Jaboatão dos Guararapes, just south of the city of Recife, around 1:40 p.m. local time.
Video from the beach shows a group of men carrying the boy’s motionless body toward the shoreline while calling out for help from others nearby as the emergency unfolded.
Local media have identified the boy as João Lucas Castor Nemezio Sales. He had been at the beach with his uncle, Aldemir José, and two other children.
“We were all in the sea before the attack, and I had just left the water and left the kids in the sea,” Jose said as he fought back tears, recalling the terrifying incident, as reported by the NY Post. “Then I heard a strange noise, and when I turned round, all I could see was blood. I didn’t think twice and raced into the water to get my nephew out.”
11-year-old boy left ‘begging not to die’ after horrific shark attack
Jose continued, “He was conscious and just kept begging me not to let him die.”
Lifeguards provided immediate assistance to the severely injured child until Mobile Emergency Care Services paramedics arrived on the scene. He was then rushed to the nearby Aeronautics Hospital before being transferred to the larger Hospital da Restauração for surgery.
According to local reports, the 11-year-old boy is in stable condition. The shark species has yet to be identified; however, bull, tiger, lemon, and others are common in the waters off the South American east coast.
Fire officials noted that the attack occurred in an area covered by a state decree warning of an increased risk of shark attacks, with signs along the beach informing the public of the danger.
“Where the boy was attacked, the sign informs that the area is subject to attacks and provides information on when swimming should be avoided,” Danise Alves, Executive Secretary of the State Committee for Monitoring Shark Incidents, said.
Third shark attack in the state this year
The State Committee for Monitoring Shark Incidents (CEMIT) reported that the mauling was the 83rd recorded shark incident in Pernambuco since monitoring began in 1992, with 24 of those taking place at Piedade Beach.
The incident on Sunday was the third shark encounter reported in the state this year. Among the victims was a 13-year-old boy who died after being attacked at Del Chifre Beach in Olinda, around 16 miles north of Jaboatão dos Guararapes.
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