in early 2012, a tragedy was narrowly averted when a small fishing boat ran aground on ilha do veado during a heavy storm.

the boat then sank, throwing all twelve crew members into the water.

luckily, eleven of the fishermen were wearing life jackets, and the fire department was quickly dispatched by a local kiosk owner.  

five crew members swam the two kilometers to shore and were found on the beach, six were retrieved from the water and the remaining mariner was found among the rocks next to the island, after rescuers were attracted by his cries for help.