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Brazilian influencers drowned in ‘devil’s throat’ after refusing to wear life jackets for taking selfies and sunbathing

Brazilian influencers drowned in ‘devil’s throat’ after refusing to wear life jackets for taking selfies and sunbathing

Aline Tamara Moreira de Amorim and Beatriz Tavares da Silva Faria died when a wave hit the ship carrying seven people

Aline Tamara/Instagram; getty Aline Tamara Moreira de Amorim; Basic image of a speedboat. Aline Tamara/Instagram; getty Aline Tamara Moreira de Amorim; Basic image of a speedboat.

Aline Tamara/Instagram; to receive

Aline Tamara Moreira de Amorim; Basic image of a speedboat.

Two Brazilian influencers drowned in a boating accident off the coast of São Paulo, according to reports from local news outlets. After the ship capsized on September 29, G1 Globo reported it only five of the seven people on board were saved.

The bodies of the other two victims were later discovered and both Aline Tamara Moreira de Amorim (37) and Beatriz Tavares da Silva Faria (27) were confirmed dead. In interview for TV Tribuna G1 GloboPolice Chief Marcos Alexandre Alfino cited testimony under the boat’s caption and said the two women refused to put on life jackets “because they were taking selfies.”

“They said life jackets would interfere with sunbathing,” Alfino added of the women who attended a party held on the ill-fated boat.

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Aline Tamara/Instagram Aline Tamara Moreira de Amorim.Aline Tamara/Instagram Aline Tamara Moreira de Amorim.

Aline Tamara/Instagram

Aline Tamara Moreira de Amorim.

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According to information obtained by G1 Globo, Amorim – who reportedly has a 17-year-old son – shared photos of herself at sea on social media. The portal added that her brother claimed he couldn’t swim.

A Brazilian source said the two deceased women did not know each other before the party.

The reports also detailed that the accident occurred in a region known as Garganta do Diabo, which means Devil’s Throat. The partygoers were being ferried back to land on another ship when a wave hit the smaller boat, knocking all seven people into the water.

Getty Region The Devil's Throat.Getty Region The Devil's Throat.

Getty

The Devil’s Throat region.

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In his statement to police, the boat’s pilot – who has not been identified – also claimed he tried to help everyone who fell from the vessel, but explained that he only managed to pull some of the survivors from the sea.

The International business times shared quotes from one of the survivors, Vanessa Audrey da Silva. She remembers diligently putting on her life jacket and holding on to a rock as the boat began to sink. She managed to hold on until help arrived and saved her.

“There was a moment in the water when no one saw anyone,” da Silva said. “I was fighting for my life.”