Brazilian Olympic kitesurfer Bruno Lobo saved a woman from drowning while training and testing a new camera, catching the moment on video.
On January 10, Lobo was out on the water off the coast of São Luís in Brazil for one of his regular training sessions. This time, however, the Olympian was testing out a new camera. He was in the middle of filming his session when he heard a cry for help coming from the water. Noticing a woman who appeared to be drowning, he swam towards her as fast as he could with his kitesurfing equipment behind him. He then used the kite to bring the woman to shore, where she was further assisted by lifeguards.
“After sailing a few meters, I heard a cry for help and looked at the girl who was drowning,” explained the two-time Pan American Games champion within the Formula Kite Class Lobo. “I quickly approached her with the kite. I tried to calm her down and asked her to climb on my back. She was quite tired and without power. I used the equipment to bring her safely to the shore.”
Bruno Lobo: the Brazilian Olympic kite surfer turned hero
Lobo saved the woman on his last run of the day, meaning that she could have drowned if she had called for help even just slightly later. “God used me as an instrument to save this young woman – all honor and glory to Him,” said Lobo.
When he is not winning championships on the kitesurfing circuit, Lobo is an orthopedic doctor. To warn people of the dangers of the open sea, Lobo posted the video of the rescue on Instagram, explaining that at a moment’s notice “the tide can pull you out to sea […] “Stay alert about the danger of the sea, rivers and anywhere you don’t know because the current in some places is usually very strong,” he said.
The woman he saved expressed deep gratitude for his heroic efforts, commenting on the post: “Words can’t describe my gratitude! “It was the salvation that God and my guides sent to me. I really could not handle it if I spent five minutes on the high sea, even knowing how to swim and using anti-drowning techniques. I wish you showers of blessings in your life!””
The Olympian has received significant praise for his heroism in the comment section of his post, which also received over 140,000 likes. Lobo, who has won two Pan-American kitesurfing championships, placed seventh in the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.