Tiger Shark Attack Leaves Swimmer with Severe Injuries at Boa Viagem

On June 1, 2026, at approximately 4:43 p.m., a 19-year-old woman was attacked by a tiger shark estimated at 3 meters in length while swimming at Boa Viagem Beach in the Boa Viagem neighborhood of Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil. The unprovoked attack in the Atlantic Ocean resulted in severe bite wounds to her lower limbs, requiring emergency amputation of her right leg. Eyewitnesses reported that the victim was in the water when the shark struck, causing catastrophic injuries. Her cousin, who was present at the beach, heard her cries for help and immediately responded. A bystander at the beach—an off-duty physician—provided critical immediate care by fashioning a tourniquet to control severe hemorrhage while awaiting emergency services. This swift intervention was instrumental in preventing fatal blood loss. The victim was transported by paramedics to a local facility and subsequently transferred to Hospital da Restauração in Recife, where she underwent emergency surgical procedures including the amputation of her right leg. She survived the attack and received ongoing medical treatment for her traumatic injuries. This incident occurred within 24 hours of another severe shark attack in Pernambuco state involving an 11-year-old child who also sustained leg amputation. The back-to-back incidents brought renewed attention to water safety concerns at Boa Viagem Beach, which has documented a pattern of shark encounters. Pernambuco state holds the distinction of recording the highest number of confirmed unprovoked shark attacks in Brazil since 1931, establishing the region as a recognized shark-attack hotspot.