A tropical escape quickly turned traumatic for former NBA forward Danilo Gallinari and his pregnant wife, Eleonora Boi. The couple, who recently relocated to Puerto Rico ahead of Gallinari’s upcoming season with Vaqueros de Bayamón, found their beachside bliss interrupted by a frightening shark attack that left Boi hospitalized and recovering from surgery. Thankfully, both mother and unborn child are safe, though the emotional shock still lingers.
Former NBA star Danilo Gallinari’s wife had a shocking encounter near the shore
On July 31, 39-year-old Eleonora Boi was swimming at Carolina Resort beach, a typically busy stretch of sand in Puerto Rico, when the unthinkable happened. A shark bit into her thigh in shallow waters. The attack caught the Italian sports journalist completely off guard. “I never thought I could get attacked by a shark and I was near the shore and on a super crowded beach,” she shared on Instagram the following day.Despite the chaos, Boi was quickly rescued and rushed to a nearby hospital, where she underwent successful surgery to treat the wound. “Thankfully, me and my baby are fine,” she wrote, offering some reassurance to concerned fans. Accompanying her post was a photo of herself in bed, bandaged but smiling playfully.Boi, who shares two young children— Anastasia, 4, and Rodolfo, 2— with Gallinari, is currently expecting their third child. Her ability to find humor in the ordeal became evident when she jokingly warned, “Shark will be hearing from my legals soon.” In another light-hearted post, she added, “Little Mermaid from Sardinia: 1, Baby Shark from Puerto Rico: 0.”
Gallinari’s New Chapter Overshadowed
Danilo Gallinari, 36, has had a lengthy NBA career, including stints with the Knicks, Nuggets, Clippers, and most recently the Pistons. The Italian forward is now continuing his professional journey in Puerto Rico. But instead of preparing for the court, he found himself supporting his wife through an unexpected crisis.Authorities later confirmed the bite, and local police identified Boi as the victim. While the physical wounds will heal, it’s clear this family’s vacation took a dark turn they won’t soon forget. For now, Boi is focused on her recovery, both physical and emotional, grateful to have walked away from what could’ve been a far more devastating outcome.Danilo Gallinari appeared in 32 games during the 2023–24 season, split between the Washington Wizards and Detroit Pistons. With the Wizards, he averaged 7.0 points in 14.8 minutes per game, shooting 43.5% from the field and 31.3% from beyond the arc. After moving to the Pistons, his efficiency spiked; he posted 8.7 points in 15.0 minutes, with a remarkable 54.5% field goal percentage and an impressive 58.3% from three-point range.Also Read: Stephen Curry’s wife Ayesha Curry’s seemingly annoyed reaction to him signing a kid’s jersey goes viralAcross his 777-game NBA career, Gallinari averaged 14.9 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 1.9 assists per game, while maintaining a 42.8% shooting clip and 38.1% accuracy from long distance.