A young woman who went missing at sea for almost two days was found disoriented, cold, and in need of water after being swept out into the ocean by a strong current.
Bruna Damaris Sant’Anna da Silva, a 26-year-old second-year nursing student, vanished on May 24 while riding a jet ski with Dheorge Bernardino in Ilhabela, an archipelago near Sao Paolo, Brazil. Despite extensive search efforts by local emergency services, Mr. Bernardino remains missing while Ms. da Silva was miraculously discovered by two fishermen after being lost for three days.
Father and son fishermen, Alex Quintino and Allan de Oliveira Quintino dos Santos, recounted encountering the distressed woman, who was visibly exhausted and dehydrated, as they were out at sea with their dog Adelaide. They rescued her after she signaled for help upon spotting their boat.
Describing the rescue, Alex mentioned that the woman was disoriented and immediately requested water upon being brought aboard their boat. He highlighted her condition, noting her wrinkled hands and feet from prolonged exposure to the water.
The fishermen shared that they believed the woman had been carried far from the coastline by a powerful current, making it challenging for authorities to locate her. They expressed relief at finding her in time, as they believed no one else would have discovered her in that remote area.
After being rushed to an intensive care unit at the Governador Mário Covas Júnior Municipal Hospital in Ilhabela, Ms. da Silva has since been discharged due to her improving health. Despite sacrificing a fishing expedition to assist her, the fishermen expressed no regrets in aiding her safe return to land.
Reflecting on the rescue, Alex expressed the gratification of saving a life and emphasized their trust in a higher power guiding their actions. Bruna’s partner, Beatriz Luz, revealed that the couple had gone missing after their jet ski capsized, with Mr. Bernardino still unaccounted for.
The incident has served as a reminder of the dangers of sea travel and the unpredictability of natural forces, underscoring the importance of safety precautions and swift emergency response in maritime emergencies.
