While during a live telecast on 30 June 2025, the Brazilian journalist’s show suddenly took a tragic twist when he unknowingly ran into the dead body of a 13-year-old girl in the Mearim River. The incident on recording has caused a stir in the Bacabal city in the state of Maranhão and has sparked global controversy over river safety and the ethics of live reporting.
Lenildo Frazão is a local correspondent who was documenting a story on the vanishing of the 13-year-old schoolgirl, Raíssa whose parents told she went swimming in the Mearim River with her classmates. To illustrate the dangerous conditions on the river, Frazão got up to his chest in the murky waters and described the river’s dangerous conditions. When he jumped back in fright and exclaimed,
“I think there’s something down here at the bottom of the water … It resembled an arm could it be her? But it could be a fish too I don’t know.”
Frazão was evidently shocked and got out from the deeper water and summoned his crew.
The Mearim River runs nearly 800 kilometers through Maranhão and is notorious for strong currents and submarine sinkholes. Frazão had warned audiences in his television story about these hazards when he explained the uneven bottom and sharp depth changes on the river most likely caused the deadly drowning in Raíssa. Local authorities reinforced his concerns by calling for more public education on the hazards of swimming in this perilous river. Maranhão has had many drowning deaths in the past years in the river, marking the deadly character of the river.
Raíssa’s death shocked Bacabal. Three days of grief were declared by her college, and a candlelight vigil brought together the family, acquaintances, and citizens in her name. Footage of the finding by Frazão went viral with millions of views on platforms like X and created opposing reactions. Some lauded his quick response, whereas others questioned the merits of broadcasting such a moment. The incident spurred discussion on the mental stress imposed on journalists and the risks of reporting from hostile environments.
Brazilian reporter is reporting on the disappearance of a 13-year-old girl when he allegedly steps on a body.Lenildo Frazão was reporting from the Mea…
Frazão’s instinct and lightning response got the rescuers to Raíssa in time, but the crash is also proof of the unforeseen dangers journalists face in the field. His shaken account
“It was horrible. I did not know what it was at the beginning, but something warned us we had to call the firefighters right away”
reveals the humane aspect of journalism. The tragedy has called for heightened water safety procedures in Bacabal and renewed focus on ethical journalism on the internet, ensuring such stories are told with respect and accuracy.
