A Brazilian model/TV personality died Sunday after attempting to save her dogs from drowning in the sea.
According to TMZ, the incident occurred in Sao Paulo on Sunday during a heavy storm. The victim, Caroline Bittencourt, dove into the water after strong winds of over 60 mph caused her two puppies to fall off a boat. Bittencourt's husband, Jorge Sestin, reportedly jumped into the sea immediately after; the man was rescued three hours later, but failed to locate his wife in the rough waters. The outlet reports Bittencourt's body was found late Monday near Cigarras Beach, about 14 miles from where she was last seen.
"We are grateful for the support and affectionate messages we have received from Carol’s friends and fans," Bittencourt's daughter, Isabelle Bittencourt, wrote on Instagram. "This energy drive fills our hearts with so much love."
It's unclear if the family's dogs were found.
In addition to working with top designers and labels like Valentino Garavani and Roberto Cavalli, Bittencourt also landed a number of small-screen gigs for RedeTV! and RecordTV.
She is survived by her child, Isabelle, and Sestini, whom she married back in January.
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