Call for an instant quote 0345 90 80 161
Open Mon to Fri 09:00 - 17:30 | Sat 09:00 - 16:00 (GMT)
21 November 2011 09:29
Tourists and locals enjoying a beach in Brazil have been been bitten by flesh-eating piranhas
Holidaymakers enjoying a dip in western Brazil got a nasty surprise when they realised the water was infested with flesh-eating piranhas.
Tourists drawn to the picturesque city of Caceres in Mato Grosso bit off more than they could chew when they entered the Daveron beach on the Paraguay river.
Elson de Campos Pinto, 22, told Globo TV's G1 website: "I took a dip in the river and when I stood up, I felt pain in my foot. I saw that I had lost the tip of my toe.
"I took off running out of the river, afraid that I would be further attacked because of the blood. I'm not going back in for a long time."
City officials intend to keep the beach open as it pulls in tourists to Brazil's Pantanal region, known for its ecotourism.
Some 15 swimmers are believed to have been bitten so far.
The skin-crawling tale serves as a reminder to tourists to take out comprehensive travel insurance before they depart. Accidents can happen in the most unlikely of places.
Firefighter Raul Castro de Oliveira told the G1 website:"People have got to be very careful. If they're bitten, they've got to get out of the water rapidly and not allow the blood to spread".
The thousands of piranhas now dominating the water are believed to have began schooling a fortnight ago.
10 November 2018
The NHS spends more than £1 billion a year on prescriptions for people with diabetes, new figures show.
[more...]
09 November 2018
Woman who smoke, have diabetes, or high blood pressure are more likely to suffer a heart attack than men with the same risk factors, a new study claims.
08 November 2018
Millions of UK pensioners feel they don't have anyone they can turn to for help, a leading charity has warned.
07 November 2018
Over a quarter of medical workers are still reluctant to recommend e-cigarettes to smokers despite being told to do so by health authorities, a new survey has revealed.
06 November 2018
A new direct flight between Manchester and Mumbai could boost the economy of northern England to the tune of £400 million, a new report suggests.
02 November 2018
Air travellers could soon face restrictions on the amount of alcohol they can drink before flying, under plans currently being considered by the government.
01 November 2018
A vegan diet could help people living with diabetes to better manage their condition, a new review suggests.
31 October 2018
Electric planes could soon be flying on short-haul routes in Europe, according to the boss of EasyJet.
30 October 2018
UK air travellers waste up to £175 million every year on seat allocations that they don't need, a new study has revealed.
27 October 2018
Nearly a third of pregnant women had their labour induced last year, leading experts to link the figure with rising maternal age and obesity.
26 October 2018
Eurostar is set to increase its services between London and Amsterdam to cope with growing demand.
25 October 2018
The Duchess of Sussex has helped make a traditional Fijian breakfast dish as part of her first royal tour, which includes a visit to the South Pacific island.