A nine-year-old boy suffered the amputation of the tips of three fingers on Monday, November 10, at the Fonte Coberta Basic School in Cinfães, Viseu district, following an alleged assault by classmates previously accused of bullying the child.
The incident was reported by the boy’s mother, Nívia Estevam, on social media, after she filed a complaint with the Public Security Police (PSP), the Commission for the Protection of Children and Young People (CPCJ), and the Public Prosecutor’s Office (MP).
Nívia stated that her son had been subjected to various harassment episodes within the institution, which is part of the Agrupamento de Escolas de Souselo. The boy complained of insults from classmates and physical aggressions, such as hair pulling, kicking, and even “strangulation.”
Nívia had previously lodged several complaints with the school regarding her son’s persecution but claimed the grievances were always disregarded, and no action was taken.
On Monday, November 10, the situation escalated. Nívia revealed to a news website that everything happened during the morning break when her son went to the bathroom. Two classmates followed him and closed the door on his hand, causing the crushing and amputation of his fingertips.
“He told me he was desperate, bleeding heavily, and tried to force the door open but couldn’t because the children were holding it. In a survival instinct, my son crawled under the door, screaming for help, while the children also ran off. When a staff member found him, due to the severity of the injuries, she felt unwell and couldn’t provide assistance, calling another colleague,” said the woman who has lived in Portugal for 8 years and in Viseu for five months.
Nívia added that when the school called her, they did not inform her about the severity of the injuries. She only realized the extent of the problem while in the ambulance with her son, on their way to São João Hospital in Porto.
In addition to accusing the school of not taking “any action” before this episode and not calling the police given “the severity of the situation” that occurred on Monday, the Brazilian mother criticized the fact that the blood was quickly “cleaned” and the “finger parts” were not “kept” for reattachment.
School group opens internal investigation
Notícias ao Minuto contacted the Agrupamento de Escolas de Souselo for a response to the case. The director, Carlos Silveira, confirmed only the “accident” and revealed that an “internal investigation” was launched to “ascertain the facts,” in compliance with current legislation.
The Agrupamento de Escolas de Souselo, in Cinfães, opened an internal investigation to determine how a student at Fonte Coberta school lost the tips of two fingers, revealed its director to the Lusa news agency today.
Lusa | 14:12 – 14/11/2025
Notícias ao Minuto questioned the official about alleged bullying complaints previously made by Nívia Estevam, but no further questions were answered.
Boy was attacked five days earlier
Público Brasil highlighted that, days earlier, the boy had already suffered an assault at school. “On November 5, I informed the school that my son came home with a mark on his neck and told me that other students had pulled his hair and kicked him. The school told me it might be a lie since children lie. On the day his fingers were severed, at first, everything was treated as child’s play,” she pointed out.
On social media, Nívia shared photos from this event and her complaint:
The boy has since been discharged and is recovering at home. “I never imagined this could happen to my son. I hope the school thoroughly investigates and appropriately punishes those who acted violently so that cases like this are not repeated,” Nívia emphasized.
The mother plans to seek justice to clarify everything. “I understand children are involved, but it is important to show there are limits, and parents, in general, cannot allow their children to act violently,” she told Público Brasil.
Notícias ao Minuto also reached out to the MP about the case but has not yet received a response.
