RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – This weekend, Brazil’s main portals reported the sad news that Pedro Tanaka, one of the country’s young surfing talents, lost his life on Friday while spearfishing with his family on a beach in Sao Sebastião, Sao Paulo, where he was from. The death of the 23-year-old water lover is a hard blow for the sport of surfing in South America. The Brazilian had been three-time champion of Sao Paulo and also held two titles in university competitions, so there was a lot of hope in him.
The Sao Sebastião Surfing Association issued a statement to express its sadness: “We are speechless with the sad news of the passing of our Pedro Tanaka. It is very difficult to accept and understand such a loss. We sympathize with all of Pedrito’s family and friends.”
“For those who accompanied the trajectory of this competent, educated, humble, professional, charismatic, with a strong and polished surf, it is a moment of great sadness. Here remains our tribute to Pedrito, an example for many young people for his training, his willpower and determination, his good heart and friend. A son that would make every father and mother proud, an enlightened being. Surfing is in mourning. Our hearts are in mourning. It is time to pray for all and for you, Pedro, to rest in peace. You returned to nature, to the essence of life and you will always shine in our lives. Eternal nostalgia,” closed the letter, which was published on the organization’s official website.
According to Globoesporte, Tanaka was spearfishing at Toque Toque beach with his father and some friends. This activity was another of his passions and he used to publish images on social networks with the fish he managed to catch. Although he and his family were used to doing it, this time something went wrong.
Those close to him came to the surface, but the 23-year-old did not manage to get his head out of the water, so they had to submerge again for almost 15 meters to look for him. When they found him, they pulled him out and brought him to shore to try to revive him without success on the first attempt.
A first aid team arrived on the scene quickly and managed to revive him, but Tanaka’s body could not endure too much and his heart stopped beating on the way to the hospital.
Pedro Tanaka had started surfing as a child, encouraged by his father, another waterman. In addition to his passion for surfing, he enjoyed scuba diving and spearfishing, all activities related to the aquatic world. The reasons why the young man, who was already an expert in the field, was unable to reach the surface are still unknown.
Source: Infobae