Two social media influencers tragically lost their lives in a boating accident off the coast of Brazil after they reportedly refused to wear life jackets, fearing it would interfere with their tanning and photo opportunities. The victims, identified as Aline Tamara Moreira de Amorim, 37, and Beatriz Tavares da Silva Faria, 27, were among six passengers on a speedboat that capsized in the turbulent waters of Devil’s Throat along the Iguazu River.
According to Sao Vincente Police Commissioner Marcos Alexandra Alfino, the two women ignored repeated requests to don their life vests. The boat’s captain reported that some passengers were reluctant to wear the safety gear as they were busy taking selfies. The incident occurred on September 29, as the group was returning to shore from a yacht party.
The speedboat, which was designed to carry a maximum of five passengers, was overloaded, making it difficult to navigate the rough waves. The boat was swamped, causing the passengers to be thrown into the choppy waters. The captain reported that he made every effort to save his passengers, but the two victims refused to wear their life vests, prioritizing their photos and tans.
Faria’s body was later recovered by Brazil’s Maritime Firefighters after it had drifted out to sea. Amorim’s body was found a week later on the coast of Itaquitanduva Beach. Moments before the tragedy, Amorim had posted photos on her social media accounts showing her aboard the luxury yacht.
The police are investigating the incident to determine if the fatalities were due to recklessness or negligence. Vanessa Audrey da Silva, one of the survivors, recounted the terrifying moments when the boat sank. She managed to put on her life vest and clung to a rock until help arrived. She described the chaos in the water, where visibility was poor and everyone was fighting for their lives.