Eleonora Boi, the Italian sports journalist and wife of former NBA star Danilo Gallinari, is recovering from a harrowing ordeal that unfolded during a family vacation in Puerto Rico earlier this month. Six months pregnant with her third child, Boi was bitten by a shark while wading in waist-deep water at the Carolina Resort, turning what should have been a relaxing beach day into a scene straight out of a thriller. The incident, which took place in early August 2025, has left Boi physically on the mend and emotionally shaken, but grateful for the quick actions of strangers and loved ones that may have saved her life and the life of her unborn baby.
According to Good Morning America, where Boi recounted her ordeal in an emotional interview, the attack happened suddenly as she enjoyed the water with her family—her husband, Danilo Gallinari, and their two young children, aged four and two. "I have to say that I'm traumatized. I started crying and screaming, and I was screaming for help in Italian," Boi recalled. At first, she thought the intense burning pain in her thigh was the result of a jellyfish sting. "My idea was maybe it is a huge jellyfish. But in reality, it wasn't the jellyfish."
Boi’s immediate reaction was panic, not just for herself but for her unborn child. "Oh my god, I was saying, 'I don't want to die.' And I wanted my baby safe, and I was crying. I was desperate," she told Good Morning America. Her husband, Gallinari, who heard her screams from the shore, rushed to her side, while their children watched in confusion and fear. In that moment, the family was joined by a woman whose quick thinking would prove crucial. As reported by Fox News and echoed in Boi’s own accounts, this Good Samaritan applied pressure to the wound with a towel, helping to stem the bleeding until paramedics could arrive.
"She was an angel. Danilo was with me, and she helped so much," Boi said, expressing her gratitude. "I would like to say thank you to this woman because I don't know her name, and I just want to say thank you to her because she helped a lot." The couple’s relief was palpable when doctors at the hospital confirmed that the baby was unharmed. Gallinari told Good Morning America, "After they gave us confirmation that the kid was ok, and nothing happened to him, they started the surgery process."
Boi underwent surgery to repair her leg. The medical team, unfamiliar with shark bite injuries, nonetheless acted swiftly, and Boi is expected to make a full recovery. "I never thought I'd be attacked by a shark, especially near the shore on a crowded beach," she posted on Instagram on August 1, 2025, just days after the incident. "Fortunately, my baby and I are fine. I was rescued promptly and the surgery to put my poor bitten leg back in place went well." She added with a touch of humor, "Now I just have to recover from the huge scare and try to forgive the great friend who betrayed me. Regarding the shark, you will soon hear from my lawyers."
The emotional scars, however, may take longer to heal than the physical ones. "I think that the body in this situation recovers faster than the mind," Gallinari reflected. "And that's something that, you know, you don't have to be ashamed of or scared of." Boi herself admitted to lingering fear, telling E! News and other outlets that she is still "scared" and finds it difficult to talk about the incident. She described the day as the "worst day" of her life.
The incident has drawn attention not only because of its terrifying nature but also due to the high-profile status of the family involved. Danilo Gallinari, a veteran of 16 NBA seasons, is currently playing for Vaqueros de Bayamon in Puerto Rico’s Baloncesto Superior Nacional (BSN) league. Over his NBA career, Gallinari played for eight teams, including the New York Knicks, Denver Nuggets, and Los Angeles Clippers, averaging 14.9 points and 4.7 rebounds across 777 games, according to Fox News and Outkick. The couple married in 2022 and are expecting their third child in November 2025.
Boi’s Instagram updates have provided her followers with reassurance and a glimpse of her resilient spirit. "My baby and I are fine," she wrote. "I was rescued promptly and the surgery to put my poor bitten leg back in place went well." She even managed a playful jab at the shark, writing, "Regarding the shark, you will soon hear from my lawyers." Boi also thanked her husband, noting that he missed a Bad Bunny concert to stay by her side during her recovery—a small but telling detail about the couple’s partnership amid crisis.
The story has resonated widely, perhaps because it combines the unpredictability of nature with the universal fears of parenthood and vulnerability. Shark attacks are rare, especially in crowded beach settings, making Boi’s experience all the more shocking. Doctors at the Puerto Rican hospital reportedly told Boi that they had never treated a shark bite victim before, highlighting the unusual nature of the incident.
As Boi focuses on her recovery, the episode has sparked conversations about beach safety and the unpredictable risks of ocean recreation. While sharks are a vital part of marine ecosystems and attacks on humans are exceedingly uncommon, the emotional impact on survivors can be profound. Boi’s willingness to share her story publicly, despite the trauma, may offer comfort and solidarity to others who have faced similar fears.
Meanwhile, Gallinari continues to support his wife and family, balancing his professional basketball commitments in Puerto Rico with the demands of parenthood and caregiving. The couple’s ordeal has brought them closer, as Boi acknowledged in her social media posts, and has reminded their fans and followers of the fragility—and resilience—of life.
For now, Boi is taking each day as it comes, grateful for her family, the kindness of strangers, and the medical care that ensured her and her baby’s safety. As she put it, "Now I just have to recover from the huge scare and try to forgive the great friend who betrayed me." The road to healing may be long, but with her loved ones by her side, Boi is determined to move forward—one step at a time.
