The body of a 26-year-old reality television star and DJ has been recovered from a popular tourist beach in Portugal, bringing a tragic end to a week-long search after his disappearance on New Year's Eve.
A Week of Anguish Ends in Tragedy
Maycon Douglas, a Brazilian-Portuguese personality known for his appearance on season eight of the Portuguese reality show 'Secret Story – Casa dos Segredos', vanished in the early hours of 31 December. He was last seen DJing at a bar before leaving with a friend around 3am.
After days of desperate searching by authorities and family, a grim discovery was made. His car was first located submerged in the sea at North Beach in Nazaré, north of Lisbon. The following Wednesday, one week after he went missing, his body was found washed ashore near the same spot.
The discovery was made by a local fisherman, Antonio Silva, who identified the young DJ by his distinctive tattoos. The news came after a day of particular distress for the family; Maycon's mother had been hospitalised due to illness brought on by the anguish of not knowing her son's fate.
Tributes Pour In for Popular DJ
Maycon, who had lived in Portugal since the age of four, had built a significant online presence, amassing 50,000 followers on Instagram and 22,000 on TikTok. He regularly shared his life as a DJ on Portugal's electronic music circuit with his fans.
His girlfriend, Raquel Coelho, led the tributes, posting a heartfelt message on social media. "I would give anything to have you back, anything," she wrote. "You appeared in my life unexpectedly, and you don't know how grateful I am that you did."
His final post, shared on 30 December, reflected on the year past and looked to the future. "2025 was intense. We learned a lot, and lived even more," he wrote. "2026 is about vision, discipline, and consistency."
Police Investigation and Cause of Death
Portuguese authorities have confirmed they are awaiting the results of a post-mortem examination to establish the exact cause of Maycon Douglas's death. They have stated that the possibility of foul play has not yet been ruled out. The investigation continues as they piece together his final movements.
This tragedy echoes another recent loss in the international DJ community. Last January, popular Australian DJ Courtney Mills, 37, died following a fall from a hotel balcony while on holiday in Bali, Kuta. She passed away two days after the accident, surrounded by her family.
