A 19-year-old girl has had her left leg ripped off by a shark in Brazil, just 24 hours after an 11-year-old boy was attacked in the same area. The incident occurred on 1st June 2026 at Boa Viagem beach in Recife, in the state of Pernambuco.
Attack Details
Marcela Vitoria de Lima Santos, 19, was swimming with relatives and friends when she was attacked by a shark. Footage shows beachgoers gathered around her as they provided first aid after she was pulled from the water.
Her cousin, Jonas Andre de Lima, a security guard, entered the sea after noticing she was drifting further from shore and appeared to be losing strength. He reached her in the surf and pulled her back towards land while calling for help from people on the beach. Others quickly rushed into the water and assisted in bringing her safely to shore.
A visiting doctor, Mike Andrade, provided first aid on the sand and treated her injuries before emergency services arrived. Marcela was taken to Hospital Alfa in Boa Viagem, where she received initial emergency treatment and was stabilised. She was later transferred to Hospital da Restauracao in central Recife for further care. Medical staff later confirmed she underwent surgery and described her condition as serious.
Witness Account
Jonas Andre de Lima described the moment he entered the water to rescue his cousin. “I was the one who rescued her in the sea,” he said. “I went into the water because she was drifting a little further away and losing strength. I don’t know, so I grabbed her by the arm, brought her out, pulling her, swimming back to shore, and people came and helped me. She was very badly injured and already without her leg.” He added that the group had gone to the beach for leisure before the incident unfolded during the swim.
Previous Attack
The attack happened one day after an 11-year-old boy, identified as Joao Lucas Castor Nemezio Sales, was injured in a separate shark attack in the same area. Joao was attacked at Piedade Beach in Jaboatao dos Guararapes, part of the Recife metropolitan area on Brazil’s northeastern Atlantic coast, on Sunday, 31st May. Officials said the youngster suffered serious injuries to his left hand and hip after being bitten. He also lost his leg in the attack, according to reports. Local media reported that he was taken to hospital for surgery, conscious and in stable condition.
Historical Context
According to data from the State Committee for Monitoring Shark Incidents (Cemit), the attack on Marcela was the 84th recorded along the coast of Pernambuco since the beginning of the historical series in 1992. Officials urged visitors to obey lifeguards and respect signs marking prohibited swimming zones.
