RIO DE JANEIRO – Santa Claus is coming to town … on a Jet Ski.
Many children with disabilities gathered at Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro to receive gifts and happiness from Santa Claus, thanks to the collaboration between the city’s firefighters and nonprofit organizations.
Despite the 27 degrees Celsius (80 degrees Fahrenheit) heat, firefighter sergeant Thiago Carvalho de Paiva dressed up as Santa Claus in the warm Rio weather, walking along the beach while being cheered on by beach visitors.
“We wanted to find a special way for Santa Claus to arrive,” said Renato Grigorovski, a spokesman for Rio’s firefighters’ department.
The event kicked off with a demonstration by sniffer dogs showcasing their talents and carried on with a lunch featuring popcorn and refreshing acai bowls. The highlight of the festivities was when Santa made a dramatic entrance on a Jet Ski, arriving at the iconic shores of Brazil’s picturesque city.
But it was not all fun and games for Santa. After delivering presents, De Paiva quickly jumped back into the water to rescue three people who appared to have trouble returning to shore.
None was injured, firefighters said.
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