This week marks the fourth anniversary of one of the most horrifying shark attacks of all time.
Teenager Jose Ernestor da Silva, who had gone with to a beach known to be frequented by dangerous sharks, had his penis torn off by a tiger shark.
The 18-year-old was dragged to the shore at Piedade beach by lifeguards, but despite a three-hour operation at the Restauracao Hospital in the nearby city of Recife surgeons were unable to save his life.
Rodrigo Matias, from Recife’s fire department, said the lad was swimming with his brother in deep waters in an area marked by signs warning of sharks.
He said: “At the exact moment in which the lifeguards asked for them to come closer to the beach he was bitten.”
