Along the Parana River 70 people were attacked by carnivorous fish as they cooled off from the sweltering heat.

The river, where the attack happened, is located about 186 miles north of Buenos Aires in the South American country of Argentina.

The carnivorous fish that attacked the bathers were a school of palometa fish, a close relative of the piranha, and were described by officials as being a "large, vicious fish with extremely sharp teeth."

The injuries to bathers were mainly concentrated on the bathers fingers and toes. Argentinian paramedic Alberto Manino was quoted by the Associated Press as confirming that several children were also injured in the attack, and some did loose entire digits.

The director of the Rosario lifeguards was quoted as stating that bathers suddenly began to complain of stinging bites on their hands on feet before the attack began.

What was really amazing to lifeguards and officials was that shortly after the attack ended, bathers were back in the river. Even though officials had closed the beach, the intense heat wave was to much for people to bear.

The director of the lifeguards, Federico Cornier stated that the attack was not normal in this magnitude. It was an "exceptional event".

Online:

Carnivorous Fish Attack In Argentina
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-25522354