Shark Attack Kills Surfer in Brazil

Posted By Sara-Lise Haith on Monday Jun 19, 2006 @ 10:28 in Special Features

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SAO PAULO, Brazil (AP) - A surfer died Sunday after a shark bit him in the leg in waters off northeastern Brazil, Brazilian media reported.

Humberto Pessoa Batista, 27, was with about 30 other surfers some 50 feet from a beach in the city of Olinda when he was attacked, firefighters told the Agencia Estado news service.

Olinda is just north of the much larger city of Recife, about 1,300 miles northeast of Sao Paulo. The area is known for large concentrations of sharks.

While surfing has traditionally been banned in the area, authorities lifted the restriction this year because few sharks had been seen.

Rescue workers tried to take Batista to a hospital, but the shark bite ruptured his femoral artery and he died of a hemorrhage, Agencia Estado reported. Firefighters could not immediately be reached for comment.

Batista's death was the 18th since 1992 caused by shark attacks in the area. The sharks are attracted to waters off Recife by a large coral reef where they go to feed.