One of the pioneers in giant wave surfing, Brazilian Márcio Freire, 47, died this Thursday afternoon (5) after suffering an accident in the sea at Praia do Norte, in the city of Nazaré, in central Portugal.
The region, which is known for its large swells, attracts surfers from all over the world and has already been the scene of serious accidents, such as the one that occurred with fellow Brazilian Maya Gabeira in 2013. Márcio Freire, however, was the first fatal victim recorded in the call “Cannon of Nazaré”.
According to information from the Maritime Police, the surfer was rescued and towed by jet ski to the sand, where the lifeguards found that he was in cardiac arrest. Resuscitation maneuvers began immediately and continued until rescue teams arrived.
“After several attempts [de reanimação]it was not possible to reverse the situation, and death was declared on the spot by elements of INEM (National Institute of Medical Emergency)”, says, in a note, the Portuguese maritime authority.
The athlete’s body was transported to the Institute of Legal Medicine in Leiria.
According to people who go to Praia do Norte, the waves at the time of the accident were about 6 meters high. The record for the biggest wave surfed at the site is 26.2 meters.
Born in Bahia, Márcio Freire was one of the pioneers in giant wave surfing. The athlete collected adventures on beaches around the world.
His performance in Hawaii, without safety equipment and facing the sea “in the row, earned him, along with Danilo Couto and Yuri Soledade, the nickname “mad dog”.
The athlete’s relatives were on the beach at the time and are receiving support from the Maritime Police’s psychology department.
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