Piranhas, like this one, injured 60 swimmers in Argentina on Christmas Day (Picture: Mario Tama/Getty)

A seven-year-old child had to have part of their finger amputated after flesh-eating piranhas descended on a group of Christmas Day swimmers, injuring 60.

According to local news reports, the mass attack happened as dozens of people took to the waters at the Paraná River in the city of Rosario, Argentina.

The sharp-toothed fish attacked more than 20 children and roughly 40 adults, biting on their hands and feet as they swum to cool down from the scorching summer heat.

A doctor on the scene, Gustavo Centurion, described the attack as ‘very aggressive,’ being the most severe of its kind since 40 people were injured in 2008.




Coastguards helped people from the water and paramedics attended to those with deep cuts on the beach.

The fish are believed to have been attracted to the area because of debris left by fishermen.

Local government spokesman Ricardo Biasatti described the attack as a rarity.