Rio resident spots SEVERED LEG floating in the water just a few miles from where Olympics sailing events are taking place

SAILORS taking part in the Rio Olympics may have been confronted by the gruesome sight of a severed leg floating on the waves if it wasn’t for eagle eyed locals.

The body part was seen in the water near the course in Guanabara Bay on Sunday.

Residents called police after they saw the limb which appeared to belong to a man bobbing close to the shoreline, which had been severed at the hip.

The discovery near Ilha do Governador, came after Britain’s Scott Giles moved into an unassailable lead position in the Finn class.

He had been sailing a few miles away from where the body part was found.

It was marked by a tattoo of the word Kauan on the calf.

However a source said it was not likely the owner of the limb was likely to be identified.

The source told Dailymail.com: “The leg was taken away to be examined.

“Samples will be taken in case anyone comes forward to report anyone missing.

“But they will not be compared with lists of people already reported as missing.

“It is very common to find body parts in the Guanabara Bay.

“It was probably someone murdered by the drugs gangs who was dumped in one of the rivers that flow into the bay.”

Guanabara Bay was highlighted for the amount of rubbish floating in its waters ahead of the start of the Rio Games.

Sailors said they had found plastic bags and sofas while trying to train.

There were also photos of the Bay covered in piles of floating debris, and researchers have discovered raw sewage and antibiotic- resistant bacteria in the waters where long distance swimmers are set to compete, alongside triathletes.

In July children playing near the Mare favela were confronted by a woman’s backside in a plastic bag which was washed up on the shore.