An Olympic kitesurfer heroically rescued a teenage girl from drowning off the shores of a beach in Brazil. Bruno Lobo, who represented Brazil at the Paris 2024 Summer Games, was testing out his camera while kitesurfing at Praia do Olho in São Luis, Maranhão on Friday when he spotted Maria Duarte, 15, in distress.
![[Brazilian Olympic kitesurfer Bruno Lobo said he was out testing a new camera when jumped into action]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/14/19/94092291-14284145-image-m-20_1736881862261.jpg)
Footage showed the 31-year-old turning around and heading for Duarte, who was fighting to stay afloat in the choppy waters. Lobo, who is also an orthopedic surgeon, abandoned his board and swam to Duarte, who grabbed onto his back. He guided them back to the board as the teen kept her arms wrapped around his neck.
![['At that moment I asked God and he was an angel in my life,' Duarte said of her rescuer]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/14/18/94089089-14284145-image-m-8_1736880661127.jpg)
Lobo then used his kite to bring them toward the shore before a lifeguard approached. Duarte was taken to the sand, where first responders rendered first aid. 'I only did what needed to be done and what was within my reach!' Lobo said in a post to his Instagram account featuring the video.
![[Maria Duarte (left) reunited with Brazilian kitesurfer Bruno Lobo (right) at a special ceremony Monday. Lobo received the Alferes Moraes Souto, the highest award from the Maranhão Military Fire Department]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/14/18/94088377-14284145-image-a-5_1736880616488.jpg)
Maria Duarte,15, holds on to Olympic kitesurfer Bruno Lobo after he rescued her from drowning in the city of São Luis. Brazilian Olympic kitesurfer Bruno Lobo said he was out testing a new camera when jumped into action. On Monday, Lobo and Duarte were reunited at a special ceremony.
![[Maria Duarte recalled struggling to stay afloat and praying to be rescued]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/14/18/94088053-14284145-image-m-7_1736880642002.jpg)
The kitesurfer was bestowed the Alferes Moraes Souto Medal, the highest award that granted by the Maranhão Military Fire Department. Duarte recalled praying for someone to rescue her from being swept away. 'At that moment I asked God and he was an angel in my life,' Duarte said in a video posted by Maranhão Governor Carlos Brandão on Instagram.
![[Aside from being the seventh ranked kitesurfer in the world, Bruno Lobo is also an orthopedic surgeon]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/14/19/94088149-14284145-image-a-9_1736881279280.jpg)
