US family found after Brazil pirate attack

Brazilian police have found an American family of four hiding in the Amazon jungle three days after their boat was attacked by pirates.

"Apparently they're fine and only have marks from insect bites. Even so, they will undergo a medical examination," a spokesperson for the northern state of Para's Public Safety Secretariat said.

At the time of Sunday's assault, 39-year-old Adam Harris Heart; his wife, 37-year-old Emily Faith Heart; and their yound daughters were traveling with other passengers by boat from a port in Belem, capital of Para state, to Macapa, capital of Amapa state.

The suspected pirates forced the boat to a spot known as "Porto dos Dias," where they stole some of the passengers' belongings before fleeing.

But when police arrived at the scene, the American family was no longer on the boat.

A joint team of police and firefighters later found them hiding in the jungle.