Stab Magazine | Graphic: Teenager Dies In Brazil After Shark Bites Off His Penis

SHARK WEEK! The Great Debate is coming... July 26 (PST)

1169 Views

Graphic: Teenager Dies In Brazil After Shark Bites Off His Penis

Well, this certainly has to be the most horrifying way to die. 

news // Jun 7, 2018
Words by stab
Reading Time: 2 minutes

In a scene straight out of a waking fucking nightmare, a teenager has died in Brazil, after a shark bit off his penis.

According to the Daily Mail, “Jose Ernestor da Silva was attacked yesterday afternoon while bathing in waters off the Piedade beach near Recife, on Brazil’s north-east coast.

“The shark struck just as lifeguards stationed on the beach had told the 18-year-old to come closer to the shore… 

“The youngster had his left leg amputated and had veins re-attached to his sexual organs in a three-hour operation as doctors tried to stem his blood loss but the victim died hours later. 

“He had been ordered by his mother not to go to the beach following a horrendous shark attack in April in which a 34-year-old tourist lost an arm and a leg.”

Emergency medics on the scene. Photo: Daily Mail

Graphic footage of the boy being brought in following the attack was released shortly after his death, which we hesitate to share, haunting as the images are. 

The Daily Mail’s description of the scene isn’t any less disturbing. 

“The youngster lies limp and unresponsive on the sand and gasps for air as a concerned helper holds his head and tells him to ‘keep breathing’, while another lifts his leg in a desperate effort to keep him alive,” writes Matt Roper. “Despite undergoing emergency surgery, his penis and femur were ‘amputated’ by the bite of what is believed to be a tiger shark, according to medics.”

A horrifying reality to confront. 

Despite desperate efforts from emergency medics, da Silva died in nearby Restauracao Hospital in Recife from two subsequent heart attacks, related to the blood loss and hypovolemic shock. 

In April, a 34-year-old named Pablo de Melo lost his leg in a shark attack at the very same beach, which is a tragedy, yes. But nothing like having your penis bitten off, dying, and the footage of the scene later going viral… 

Our condolences to Jose Ernestor da Silva’s friends and family. 

Comments

Comments are a Stab Premium feature. Gotta join to talk shop.

Already a member? Sign In

Want to join? Sign Up

Advertisement

Most Recent

From The Championship Tour To Louis Vuitton | Mikey February | StabMic Ep. 24

Did LV rip off Vans?

Jul 27, 2026

The Great Shark Debate: To Cull or Not to Cull? 

Dr Michael Mehmet vs Fred Pawle.

Jul 26, 2026

Rasta’s Shark Theory

Return to your animal, trust your instincts.

Jul 25, 2026

How To Shark-Proof Your Next Surf*

Shark policy aside, what tech, gadgets and gear can actually keep you safe?

Jul 25, 2026

Good Luck Killing The US Open

A preview of the 2026 US Open of Surfing at Huntington Beach.

Jul 24, 2026

Mateus Herdy Heads Home

A profile on the Florianopolin CT rookie, his rich orbit of influences, and Yago Dora’s…

Jul 24, 2026

Response: A Shark Cull Won’t Make Our Beaches Safer

Science over sensationalism.

Jul 23, 2026

Op-ed: Why Australia Needs More Shark Nets

An unapologetic take on the need for safer lineups.

Jul 23, 2026

How Reunion Island Survived Shark Purgatory

With more shark attacks per capita than anywhere else on Earth, it's taken millions to…

Jul 22, 2026

Introducing EAST’s First Goofyfoot Test Pilot: Harry Bryant

“My life’s already a board test.”

Jul 22, 2026

The Trauma Gap: Surviving vs Seeing Shark Attacks

Three witnesses recall the incidents that changed them.

Jul 21, 2026

Are There More Great Whites In California Than Ever Before?

A firsthand shark attack story, a conversation with two researchers, and how to avoid becoming…

Jul 20, 2026

Australian Oil & Gas Co. Wants To Destroy A World-Class Reef

Does that make you mad? Good. Here's how you can save Scott Reef:

Jul 20, 2026

Welcome To Stab’s Shark Week

An editorial week dedicated to the large cartilaginous fish we share lineups with.

Jul 20, 2026

What, You Haven’t Heard Of Weslley ‘King’ Dantas?

The 28-year-old has beaten loan sharks, empty bank accounts, and unmet potential to stage his…

Jul 19, 2026

Kinda Pumping: Cole Houshmand And Teresa Bonvalot Win ‘Plan B’ Ballito Pro

The sorting hat for the 2027 CT season begins its dirty work in South Africa.

Jul 18, 2026

How To A.I.-Proof Your Life With Skip McCullough

“Fences? Laundry? It’s not sexy. But it makes money. That’s the bottom line.”

Jul 17, 2026

How Surfers Spend Their Money

We asked 7,500 surfers where their next paycheck is going.

Jul 16, 2026
Advertisement