A daredevil has been spotted surfing a rapid-moving river after a period of heavy rain.
Paulo Guido Coelho was seen riding the murky, brown waves of the swollen river as it runs through a city centre.
The 53-year-old business administrator has been surfing in the area since he was 15 years old.
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He was spotted riding the swollen Doce River in the city of Governador Valadares located north of Rio de Janeiro, in Brazil.
Paulo said surfing is common in the area at this time of year when heavy rain causes the river to flood and the waves to swell.
He added that he and five friends have been a member of a surfing group in the city since 1989.
He explained: “When the river is really full, I always go out with another friend who knows how to surf who can help me in a dangerous situation.
“It’s different from going to the beach and having someone on the sand just watching me.”
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Paulo said he lives close to the river in the city centre, but decided to surf the area inside the Municipal Natural Park where the currents form.
He said: “We usually cross the river in kayaks, towing our boards.
“We leave the kayaks in the woods and follow a trail to a stone bench.
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“There we leave our personal belongings and then one person goes surfing and the other films.”
The area was battered by heavy rains over the weekend.
On 13 January, the Civil Defence authority issued a warning about the risk of flooding.
Paulo and his friend went surfing on the swollen river the following day, as reported by What’s The Jam.
In response to the stunt, the fire department said in a statement: “The water level in the Rio Doce region is very high due to heavy rains.
“Practicing any type of water sport in the river in these conditions can lead to various types of accidents.
“The main risk is losing your balance and falling in the water, unable to return to the surface and drowning, or accidentally ingesting some water and becoming ill, considering the river is already quite full of rubbish, toxic substances, and heavy metals.
“It is important to remember that a rescue operation by firefighters in these conditions is extremely difficult, considering the speed of the water, the length of the river, and the large volume of water.
“Therefore, the best thing to do is not to practice any type of water sport or play in the river during this period of heavy rain.
“It is recommended that you look for a safe place to surf.”
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