An Olympic kite surfer from Brazil, Bruno Lobo, found himself in an unexpected role as a lifesaver while testing video equipment on his board. During this session, he became the sole hope for a stranded and exhausted swimmer.
Lobo, 31, described the incident as “the day that God used me as an instrument to save this young woman; all honor and glory to Him.” The husband and father recorded much of the rescue incident inadvertently while experimenting with a new camera mount attached to his board.
In his Instagram post, Lobo recounted, “I went in at 17:40 to do the last test on the camera. It was a cloudy day, and the wind conditions were not ideal, but I decided to try out the new equipment. After sailing a short distance, I heard a cry for help and saw the girl who was drowning. I quickly approached her with my kite, tried to calm her down, and asked her to climb onto my back as she was very tired and powerless. I used my gear to bring her safely to shore.”
After reaching the beach, the woman was examined by lifeguards and expressed her gratitude by hugging Lobo, thanking him for saving her life. Although he is set to make his Olympic debut in Paris and has won gold medals at the last two Pan-American Games, Lobo’s Instagram has primarily featured messages of appreciation for his heroic act. He humbly stated that he did what was necessary and within his capabilities.