Rio 2016: Severed leg found in Guanabara Bay near sailing event

The limb's owner will most likely never be identified

A Finn sailing vessel sails in Rio de Janeiro's Guanabara Bay (WILLIAM WEST/AFP/Getty Images)

A severed leg was found in the waters off Rio de Janeiro as Olympic sailors raced in the area, in a further blot on the reputation of Guanabara Bay.

Residents of Governador Island, situated in the bay, spotted the limb as the Finn class sailing began several miles away. British Olympian Giles Scott later won the gold for Team GB in the event.

The leg - removed at the hip - likely belongs to another victim of violent crime in the city. It was tattooed with the word ‘Kauan’ on its calf but authorities were pessimistic its owner would be identified.

A police source told Mail Online: “The leg was taken away to be examined. Samples will be taken in case anyone comes forward to report anyone missing.

“But they will not be compared with lists of people already reported as missing. It is very common to find body parts in the Guanabara Bay.

“It was probably someone murdered by the drugs gangs, who was dumped in one of the rivers that flow into the bay.”

There were also fears over raw sewage and super bugs in the waters off Rio ahead of the Games, but the city’s sky high crime rate has been the main concern.

This is despite the huge security presence in Rio – 85,000 personnel were drafted in to secure the city for international visitors.

Earlier this month, two Australian rowing coaches were robbed at knifepoint close to their hotel in the Ipanema district of the city.

Elsewhere, the windows of a media bus were broken after it was hit by rocks. In another incident, a stray bullet – thought to be from a nearby favela – was found in the equestrian media centre.

Various other members of international teams were robbed in the weeks leading up to the Games.