Brazilian Pro Surfer Catches Four Stray Bullets At Açai Shop Drive-By In Saquarema
“It’s a miracle he’s ok.”
Editor’s note: Before reading this story, we recommend hitting play on the song below for a premium article experience.
Four bullets found their way onto Rickson Falcão.
One grazed his back and the others struck his right foot, leg and left ankle. The 19-year-old Brazilian pro surfer underwent surgery and was discharged from hospital last Sunday. He later took to Instagram to thank well-wishers and reassure fans.
“Thank you, Heavenly Father, for this chance to live. If the bullet that hit my back hadn’t just grazed me, I don’t know if I’d be here,” he wrote.
Rickson was having açaí with two friends at a crowded beachfront venue on the eve of a public holiday when the shooting began.
Speaking to Stab, Falcão’s manager, Felipe Freitas, said he believes the young goofyfoot will be back in the water in about a month. He couldn’t stress enough how lucky Rickson had been despite being at the wrong place at the wrong time.
“One of the bullets went through his Achilles heel and the tendon, but didn’t hit either. A miracle,” he said. “Otherwise, he could forget doing airs for the rest of his life.”
“Another bullet hit his tibia. It perforated the bone but didn’t shatter it. Another miracle.”
As for the bullet that grazed Rickson’s back, Freitas said, “If he’d been turned about 30 degrees to his right, he would’ve been shot in the chest and probably died.”
Two of Falcão’s friends were also wounded in the shooting. Professional skateboarder Pedro Magalhães Marchi was shot in the arm and surfer Kauã Vilhena was hit in the calf. Both are in stable condition.
Rickson managed to limp away from the scene towards the road before collapsing. As luck would have it, a friend happened to be driving past.
Freitas said. “He held him, got him into his car, and drove him to the hospital.”
Security camera footage of the attack shows the moment gunfire hailed down at the Saquarema snack bar last Thursday night.
Patrons can be seen abandoning tables and scrambling for cover. At one point, a young woman falls to the ground and is dragged inside the establishment by another person.
Three other people were shot, one of whom later died. According to the Military Police, Luan de Itaúna didn’t survive after being rushed to the Municipal Hospital.
Police records state that a black car drove past the scene before one of its occupants fired more than ten shots. Luan is believed to have been the intended target.
The Military Police were called at around 11pm. By the time officers arrived, the injured had already been taken for medical treatment and nearby businesses had closed. Two 9mm shell casings were found at the scene.
The case has been registered with the Saquarema police station, and investigators are working to establish the motive for the attack.
It’s a tragic moment for those affected, but perhaps the start of a heroic surfing story. Keep an eye out for Rickson.
Comments
Comments are a Stab Premium feature. Gotta join to talk shop.
Already a member? Sign In
Want to join? Sign Up