Two teens are thankful to be alive after separate shark attacks a day apart in which one teen lost an arm and the other lost a leg. Both teens were in the same waters where a man nearly lost his leg in February.
The first case took place March 5 around 11:20 a.m. when a shark grabbed a 14-year-old boy’s the right leg. He was in the water off Piedade Beach, Jaboatão dos Guararapes, Pernambuco State, Brazil.
Video taken at the scene shows the boy as he was carried out of the water and placed on the beach, revealing a large portion missing from his upper right front thigh. He was taken by helicopter by the Brazilian emergency medical service Samu before being transferred to another hospital in the capital. Unfortunately, the his leg was amputated, but reports indicate he is in stable condition.
On March 6, Kaylane Timóteo Freitas was in waist-deep water around 1 p.m. when a shark grabbed her left arm. The location, near the Vila Alda building, was approximately 500 meters (546 yards) from where the 14-year-old boy was attacked a day earlier.
Disturbing video from the scene shows her standing in blood-colored water as she was helped back to the beach. Once on the shore she fell to the sand, and it is apparent her right arm was missing from just below the shoulder. She arrived at the hospital around 1:20 p.m. and was last listed in stable condition after undergoing an amputation.
This is the third shark attack in the area this year.
André Luiz Gomes da Silva, 32, was attacked February 20 off Milagres. The surfer was enjoying the waves in a restricted area when a shark grabbed his left leg. He was able to make it back to the beach where good Samaritans assisted him and alerted authorities. Firefighters responded to the scene around 4:30 p.m. and transported him to the hospital. Surgeons treated the massive half-moon gash just below the man’s left knee and extending to his thigh, saving the man’s leg.
Thankfully, photos from the hospital show he was released from the hospital after a 10-day stay.
Water activities in the area have been restricted since 2021 due to fatal shark attacks. However, that does not stop people from entering the water. Shark warning signs are posted, although many are defaced, warning people not to go in the water.
Lifeguards complain that beachgoers do not obey the warnings. Video reportedly taken shortly after one of the recent attacks shows a man standing alone in waist deep water as lifeguards request, he come to shore. He does not comply and as the guards assist him out of the water a shark appears to be seen splashing in the waves.
City hall is planning to schedule a meeting to evaluate other measures for shark mitigation.
The area has a deep channel that runs close to the coast and is a spot where sharks hunt. They can easily come from the depths to search for food and then head to the deep water quickly.
Another issue raised by biologists are the construction of port complexes and sewage runoff in the region. Both can disrupt fish stocks and possibly create food shortages.
All locations have been marked on the 2023 Shark Attack Map.
