Search Enters Fourth Day for Missing Rocinha Surf Instructor in São Conrado

Overview

• José Ricardo Ramos, known as Bocão and founder of Rocinha Surfe Escola, was reported missing after he left São Conrado saying he would paddle to the Ilhas Tijucas, a group of islets about three kilometers offshore.
• The Corpo de Bombeiros received the alert at 9:45 a.m. on Wednesday and has run continuous operations since then using the 3º Grupamento Marítimo (Gmar), the Centro de Embarcações de Resgate (CER), jet skis, rescue boats, divers, drones, lifeguards and shore units.
• Teams changed tactics overnight because poor visibility forced searches along the shoreline, then resumed active at-sea sweeps with drones, motos aquáticas and boats by Friday morning.
• Friends, surf associations and residents have circulated photos and posters on social media to help, and Marcello de Farias of the Associação de Surfe de São Conrado has filmed appeals noting Ramos left his belongings at a quiosque before disappearing.
• The case has revived public-safety warnings about drowning risk, with the Sociedade Brasileira de Salvamento Aquático cited by reporters to underline that even experienced water users can be endangered and to promote upcoming prevention campaigns.