An 11-year-old boy had his leg amputated after being rushed to hospital following a horrific shark attack on a crowded beach in Brazil. The youngster underwent emergency surgery on Sunday which saw his left leg amputated after he was attacked off the coast of Jaboatao dos Guararapes near the city of Recife, his uncle confirmed.
Uncle's Harrowing Account
Speaking to a local newspaper, uncle Aldemir Jose said he had gone to the beach yesterday morning with three children including his nephew and daughter after finishing work. Fighting back tears, he said: "We were all in the sea before the attack and I had just left the water and left the kids in the sea."
He added: "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. He was conscious and just kept begging me not to let him die."
Emergency Response
A nurse tended to the youngster at the scene until emergency responders arrived, who rushed him to a nearby hospital. Initial reports said the shark had bitten the child in the left hand and hip during the incident, which occurred just after 1.30pm local time yesterday. His security guard uncle later told local paper Diario de Pernambuco that he had been told his nephew's left leg had been amputated.
Danger Zone
The beach where the attack occurred is called Praia da Piedade or Piedade Beach in English. It is open to bathing, but a sign on the beach warns locals and holidaymakers: "Danger - Shark Zone." Danise Alves, the executive secretary of the State Committee for Monitoring Shark Incidents (CEMIT), said: "In Jaboatao, the bathing ban extends from the BarraMares Hotel to the Piedade Church. Where the boy was attacked, the sign informs that the area is subject to attacks and provides information on when swimming should be avoided."
Rising Attacks
Yesterday's shark attack was the third so far this year in the north-east Brazilian state of Pernambuco, which Recife and nearby Jaboatao dos Guararapes both form part of. Both the previous attacks happened in January. In the last 34 years, there have been 83 recorded shark attacks in the state, resulting in 27 deaths.
