A devastating incident has resulted in the death of a 21-year-old woman after she reportedly fell from a bridge in Brazil when her bungee cord was not attached. Maria Eduarda Rodrigues de Freitas lost her life in front of stunned onlookers at the Ponte do Esqueleto, an disused railway bridge located in Limeira, São Paulo.
Horrific Fall Captured on Video
The fatal incident occurred during a planned jump where staff allegedly propelled Ms. Rodrigues de Freitas over the edge without securing her harness to the main safety rope. Footage circulating from the moments leading up to the fall shows two individuals carrying her by her limbs towards the precipice. As she was released, panicked shouts of “The rope, people, the rope” can be distinctly heard.
The camera then captures the horrifying aftermath, showing the safety line still lying on the platform as Ms. Rodrigues de Freitas plummeted to the ground below. Emergency services, including firefighters and paramedics, were immediately summoned but tragically, she was pronounced dead at the scene due to severe, multiple injuries.
Investigation Underway, Arrests Made
Witnesses have informed military police that the incident was a result of employees forgetting to connect the crucial safety equipment prior to the jump. Authorities took six individuals to Limeira’s 2nd Police District for questioning, with three men reportedly arrested at the location.
Reports indicate that two individuals attempted to flee the scene into nearby woodland following the fall but were apprehended with the assistance of a police helicopter. The bungee jump operation appears to have been conducted by Entre Cordas, with Ih Voei identified as a linked instructor brand. Staff present at the site were reportedly wearing attire bearing the logos of both companies.
Victim’s Excitement Turned to Tragedy
Ms. Rodrigues de Freitas, who hailed from Jandira, had expressed considerable excitement about the outing just hours before the tragedy. She had shared images of the venue, her identification bracelets, and the operators on social media. In one post, accompanied by a photograph of an Entre Cordas banner, she wrote, “Who was the crazy person who let me jump off a bridge?”
Neither Entre Cordas nor Ih Voei had released an official statement by Saturday evening. The Instagram page for Entre Cordas, which had previously advertised “a jump to the extraordinary,” was reportedly removed after the incident.
City Hall Points to Federal Responsibility
Limeira city hall has announced its intention to pursue legal action against Brazil’s federal government. The municipality claims it had repeatedly issued warnings for months regarding the dangerous access to the bridge, asserting that its control falls under federal jurisdiction.
Law enforcement agencies are currently conducting a thorough investigation to determine if negligence played a role in Ms. Rodrigues de Freitas’s untimely death.
