Girl, 9, Attacked by Piranhas During Family Lake Outing: 'Her Toes Were Gone, It Was Terrifying,' Mom Recalls
Nine-year-old girl Yasmin Vieira was bitten by flesh-eating piranhas in Brazil on June 8, according to local reports
The attack allegedly occurred shortly after the victim placed her legs in the water at Lago Sul in Caldas Novas while on a family outing
"As a mother, seeing this is devastating," Yasmin's mother Janaina Pereira told Correio BrazilienseA nine-year-old girl in Brazil has been mutilated in a piranha attack.
Yasmin Vieira was attacked moments after placing her legs in the water at Lago Sul in the Brazilian municipality of Caldas Novas during a family visit to the area on Sunday, June 8. Flesh-eating piranhas gnawed at her feet and ripped two of her toes off, national newspapers Correio Braziliense, G1, and Metropoles reported.
'[She] really wanted to see the place, we went to the edge so she could put her feet in the water. It was a matter of seconds,' her mother Janaina Pereira, 31, told Correio Braziliense. 'I only heard her scream: 'Mommy, the piranha got my foot!'. She jumped and got out of the water. When she sat down, I saw that her toes were gone. It was terrifying.'
The lake was full of children in the public area at the time and there was 'poor signage' in regards to any potential harmful creatures residing in the water, the mom alleged.
Following the attack, Janaina recalled seeing her daughter 'losing a lot of blood," per Correio Braziliense.
Members of the national emergency service team SAMU responded 15 minutes later and transported Yasmin to the Maternal Hospital. She underwent a procedure to close up her wounds and was discharged the same day, according to the outlet.
Janaina said seeing her daughter in 'constant' pain has been 'devastating.'
'She is sad because she keeps questioning something that was ripped from her body. As a mother, seeing this is devastating," the mom told Correio Braziliense. "My emotional state is terrible. She tries to be strong, but she goes through a lot of suffering.'
Janaina added that she keeps her daughter's foot covered bandages 'to protect her from the visual impact,' hoping that eventually she'll recover emotionally as well as physically from the traumatic incident.
Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
The City of Caldas Novas confirmed the attack in a statement, saying, "The child was promptly attended to by the medical team at the Children's Emergency Care Unit (PAI), including an orthopedic specialist, who performed all necessary procedures to minimize the injuries – including the Figueiredo Technique," per Correio Braziliense.
The statement added that 'preventive actions have been carried out by the Municipal Secretariat for the Environment and Water Resources in several public access locations, either by installing warning signs or through environmental education campaigns for tourists and residents."
Read the original article on People
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Girl, 9, Attacked by Piranhas During Family Lake Outing: 'Her Toes Were Gone, It Was Terrifying,' Mom Recalls
Nine-year-old girl Yasmin Vieira was bitten by flesh-eating piranhas in Brazil on June 8, according to local reports The attack allegedly occurred shortly after the victim placed her legs in the water at Lago Sul in Caldas Novas while on a family outing "As a mother, seeing this is devastating," Yasmin's mother Janaina Pereira told Correio BrazilienseA nine-year-old girl in Brazil has been mutilated in a piranha attack. Yasmin Vieira was attacked moments after placing her legs in the water at Lago Sul in the Brazilian municipality of Caldas Novas during a family visit to the area on Sunday, June 8. Flesh-eating piranhas gnawed at her feet and ripped two of her toes off, national newspapers Correio Braziliense, G1, and Metropoles reported. '[She] really wanted to see the place, we went to the edge so she could put her feet in the water. It was a matter of seconds,' her mother Janaina Pereira, 31, told Correio Braziliense. 'I only heard her scream: 'Mommy, the piranha got my foot!'. She jumped and got out of the water. When she sat down, I saw that her toes were gone. It was terrifying.' The lake was full of children in the public area at the time and there was 'poor signage' in regards to any potential harmful creatures residing in the water, the mom alleged. Following the attack, Janaina recalled seeing her daughter 'losing a lot of blood," per Correio Braziliense. Members of the national emergency service team SAMU responded 15 minutes later and transported Yasmin to the Maternal Hospital. She underwent a procedure to close up her wounds and was discharged the same day, according to the outlet. Janaina said seeing her daughter in 'constant' pain has been 'devastating.' 'She is sad because she keeps questioning something that was ripped from her body. As a mother, seeing this is devastating," the mom told Correio Braziliense. "My emotional state is terrible. She tries to be strong, but she goes through a lot of suffering.' Janaina added that she keeps her daughter's foot covered bandages 'to protect her from the visual impact,' hoping that eventually she'll recover emotionally as well as physically from the traumatic incident. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. The City of Caldas Novas confirmed the attack in a statement, saying, "The child was promptly attended to by the medical team at the Children's Emergency Care Unit (PAI), including an orthopedic specialist, who performed all necessary procedures to minimize the injuries – including the Figueiredo Technique," per Correio Braziliense. The statement added that 'preventive actions have been carried out by the Municipal Secretariat for the Environment and Water Resources in several public access locations, either by installing warning signs or through environmental education campaigns for tourists and residents." Read the original article on People
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Bolsonaro faces historic trial in Brazil
June 13 (UPI) -- Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro is in the final stage of a historic trial before Brazil's Supreme Federal Court over his alleged role in an attempted coup following his 2022 election loss. The trial, now in its final phase of evidence collection, will determine Bolsonaro's legal fate and could end his political aspirations to reclaim the presidency. Since mid-May, Bolsonaro and several former aides have faced legal proceedings unprecedented in Brazil's recent history. On Tuesday, Bolsonaro appeared in court to respond to the charges. Prosecutors accuse Bolsonaro of plotting to overturn the 2022 election results to stay in power. He faces charges of rebellion and attempting a coup. Local news media report he could face up to 40 years in prison if convicted on all counts. During the hearing, Bolsonaro apologized to Justice Alexandre de Moraes and other members of the court for previously alleging election fraud, admitting he had no evidence. At one point, Bolsonaro even asked De Moraes if he would consider being his running mate in 2026 -- the justice replied, "I reject the offer." Bolsonaro admitted discussing with advisers and military leaders the possibility of finding a "legal mechanism" to overturn Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva's election victory, but insisted, "There was never a possibility of a coup in my government." That statement, though defiant, could alienate parts of Bolsonaro's base who continue to defend the Jan. 8, 2023, rioters, said Bruno Pazos Barboz, a professor at the Social Observatory of Rio. On that day, thousands of radical Bolsonaro supporters stormed government buildings in Brasília -- just one week after Lula took office -- vandalizing property and stealing documents and official government symbols. "This trial, which has drawn both national and international attention, is not only about individual accountability," Pazos said. "It's also a test of the strength of Brazil's democratic institutions. That's why what's happening -- and how it ends -- is so important." Bolsonaro is already barred from holding public office until 2030 by the Superior Electoral Court, due to his baseless attacks on the country's electronic voting system. A conviction in the current case could result in prison time and further extend that ban, effectively ending his short-term presidential ambitions. Despite the charges, some of his supporters and political analysts have not ruled out his return. A Genial/Quaest poll conducted between May and June 2025 found that 65% of Brazilians believe Bolsonaro should drop out of the 2026 presidential race and allow another right-wing candidate to take his place, The Rio Times reported -- signaling broad rejection beyond his core base of supporters. Still, "Bolsonarismo" remains active, said Pazos Barboz. The movement holds significant influence in Congress and maintains a loyal base that continues to mobilize periodically. Its rhetoric often centers on themes of "victimization" and claims of "political persecution." Two additional factors continue to sustain Bolsonarismo. One is the growth of Brazil's Protestant evangelical population, a demographic traditionally aligned with Bolsonaro and estimated at about 50 million people. The other is the lack of a unifying leader capable of bringing together the country's right-wing parties -- a gap that could reshape the 2026 electoral landscape. If convicted, Bolsonaro could appeal to the same court and possibly to the full bench. The entire legal process -- including trial and appeals -- could extend into late 2025 or early 2026.
UPI
2 days ago
- UPI
Bolsonaro faces historic trial in Brazil
Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro (pictured in 2019) is in the final stage of a historic trial before Brazil's Supreme Federal Court. File Photo by Chris Kleponis/UPI | License Photo June 13 (UPI) -- Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro is in the final stage of a historic trial before Brazil's Supreme Federal Court over his alleged role in an attempted coup following his 2022 election loss. The trial, now in its final phase of evidence collection, will determine Bolsonaro's legal fate and could end his political aspirations to reclaim the presidency. Since mid-May, Bolsonaro and several former aides have faced legal proceedings unprecedented in Brazil's recent history. On Tuesday, Bolsonaro appeared in court to respond to the charges. Prosecutors accuse Bolsonaro of plotting to overturn the 2022 election results to stay in power. He faces charges of rebellion and attempting a coup. Local news media report he could face up to 40 years in prison if convicted on all counts. During the hearing, Bolsonaro apologized to Justice Alexandre de Moraes and other members of the court for previously alleging election fraud, admitting he had no evidence. At one point, Bolsonaro even asked De Moraes if he would consider being his running mate in 2026 -- the justice replied, "I reject the offer." Bolsonaro admitted discussing with advisers and military leaders the possibility of finding a "legal mechanism" to overturn Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva's election victory, but insisted, "There was never a possibility of a coup in my government." That statement, though defiant, could alienate parts of Bolsonaro's base who continue to defend the Jan. 8, 2023, rioters, said Bruno Pazos Barboz, a professor at the Social Observatory of Rio. On that day, thousands of radical Bolsonaro supporters stormed government buildings in Brasília -- just one week after Lula took office -- vandalizing property and stealing documents and official government symbols. "This trial, which has drawn both national and international attention, is not only about individual accountability," Pazos said. "It's also a test of the strength of Brazil's democratic institutions. That's why what's happening -- and how it ends -- is so important." Bolsonaro is already barred from holding public office until 2030 by the Superior Electoral Court, due to his baseless attacks on the country's electronic voting system. A conviction in the current case could result in prison time and further extend that ban, effectively ending his short-term presidential ambitions. Despite the charges, some of his supporters and political analysts have not ruled out his return. A Genial/Quaest poll conducted between May and June 2025 found that 65% of Brazilians believe Bolsonaro should drop out of the 2026 presidential race and allow another right-wing candidate to take his place, The Rio Times reported -- signaling broad rejection beyond his core base of supporters. Still, "Bolsonarismo" remains active, said Pazos Barboz. The movement holds significant influence in Congress and maintains a loyal base that continues to mobilize periodically. Its rhetoric often centers on themes of "victimization" and claims of "political persecution." Two additional factors continue to sustain Bolsonarismo. One is the growth of Brazil's Protestant evangelical population, a demographic traditionally aligned with Bolsonaro and estimated at about 50 million people. The other is the lack of a unifying leader capable of bringing together the country's right-wing parties -- a gap that could reshape the 2026 electoral landscape. If convicted, Bolsonaro could appeal to the same court and possibly to the full bench. The entire legal process -- including trial and appeals -- could extend into late 2025 or early 2026.
