Brazilian Bodyboarder/Kitesurfer Dies at Puerto Escondido TheInertia.com A bodyboarder died on Tuesday at Puerto Escondido in Oaxaca, Mexico. Rafael Piccoli, a 38-year-old from Florianópolis, was surfing during the .

Brazilian Bodyboarder/

Kitesurfer Dies at 

Puerto Escondido

The Inertia

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A bodyboarder died on Tuesday at Puerto 

Escondido in Oaxaca, Mexico. Rafael Piccoli, 

a 38-year-old from Florianópolis, was surfing 

during the recent big swell that slammed into

 the infamous beach break when the accident occurred.

According to reports, it’s likely that he hit the 
bottom, was knocked unconscious, and subsequently 
drowned. Although not confirmed, a neck injury is 
also suspected to have played a role. After Piccoli 
took off on a large left, he pulled into a barrel that 
closed out. In such a big lineup, no one noticed the 
accident until it was too late.

Piccoli was also an avid kiteboarder. Edwin Morales, 
a Puerto photographer, told Surfline that like many 
others, he came to Puerto with a singular goal in 
mind: to get the biggest wave of his life.

After the accident, Piccoli’s body was taken by the 
current some 200 yards north to Marinero. Lifeguards 
pulled him from the water and began resuscitation 
attempts, but were unable to bring him back.

“It’s a shame to have lost a brother of the ocean this 
morning,” Morales wrote on Instagram. “You went 
doing what you loved most. Now God has you in his 
glory. I will never forget what you told us. You could 
not sleep because of the anxiety of surfing that swell. 
Only God knows our destiny.”

Our sincerest condolences go out to the friends, family,
 and anyone affected by Piccoli’s death.