IML Confirms Identity After Body of 14-Year-Old Missing at Copacabana Is Found

Overview

• Firefighters recovered the body on Tuesday, January 6, concluding a seven-day search off Copacabana.
• The Instituto Médico Legal identified the victim as Luiz Gabriel de Souza Silva, 14, from Campinas, São Paulo.
• Luiz disappeared on December 31 near Posto 2 after a breaking wave pulled him under while he was using a board, and his body was found near Posto 3.
• Search teams from the 3º Grupamento Marítimo used divers, watercraft, drones and an aircraft during the operation.
• Lifeguards reported red-flag high-risk conditions at the time, and the fire department counted 840 beach rescues statewide over Réveillon, up from 33 a year earlier.