Podcast Maré Sonora ® video
João Pedro Portinari Leão: The Bait
December 20, 2025 · 54 min · 136 views
Man in pink polo framed by arched doorway indoors
What this video covers
João Pedro Portinari Leão, a lifelong ocean sailor and windsurfer from a family with deep maritime roots, survived a great white shark attack off Búzios — the only recorded great white attack in that area — while windsurfing on a new board.12:26 The attack happened when he entered the water to complete a water start maneuver; the shark had been following him, and the moment he submerged he felt a strike on his leg.17:36 He continued the maneuver, sailed roughly 40 seconds to shore before registering what had happened, then was driven to a friend's house to board a private plane to Rio de Janeiro for treatment, judging Búzios medically inadequate for his injuries.0:50 He describes his family's multi-generational shark history: his grandfather was also attacked while spearfishing near Arraial do Cabo.37:32 Portinari Leão wrote a book about the experience and discusses the tension between telling the story honestly and avoiding sensationalism that demonizes sharks, which he argues are ecologically essential.28:36 He returns regularly to the attack site to spearfish.30:08 The conversation also covers his family connection to Brazilian painter Cândido Portinari, his great-uncle.1:42 Surviving the attack reinforced his view that fear of sharks is disproportionate to the actual ecological risk they pose in balanced marine environments.43:22
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