3 instructors charged after 21-year-old woman dies in fatal rope jump in Brazil
The instructors are accused of homicide following a deadly jump from a bridge in São Paulo state
Three instructors have been charged with homicide after a 21-year-old woman died during a rope-jumping activity from a bridge in Brazil, in what authorities are calling a serious failure in safety procedures.
The victim, identified as Maria Eduarda Rodrigues de Freitas, fell approximately 131 feet from the Ponte do Esqueleto—also known as “Skeleton Bridge”—in Limeira, São Paulo state, on Saturday, June 13.
Authorities say Freitas had signed up for a guided rope-jumping experience from the disused railway bridge when the fatal incident occurred.
Unlike traditional bungee jumping, the activity uses climbing ropes designed to allow a controlled swing beneath the structure rather than elastic recoil.
Three instructors—identified as Luis Felipe Feliciano Egoroff, Vitor de Freitas Goncalves, and Maicon Fernandes Cintra—were arrested and charged with homicide with eventual intent, a legal classification in Brazil used when individuals engage in conduct that carries a known risk of death.
Investigators allege that Freitas was not properly attached to safety ropes before being sent off the bridge.
According to police, the instructors reportedly admitted they could not recall who was responsible for checking the equipment prior to the jump.
Witness accounts and video footage circulating online appear to show Freitas being carried toward the edge of the bridge by staff moments before the fall, with no visible safety line attached.
In one recording, bystanders can be heard reacting in shock immediately after the incident.
Emergency services, including a police helicopter, were deployed to the scene, but Freitas was pronounced dead at the site of the fall.
Police investigator Andrea Levy said the case points to a breakdown in supervision and safety protocols, alleging that the group operating the activity was not properly regulated or authorized.
Authorities have also raised concerns about the use of the bridge for extreme sports activities, suggesting that access control and safety oversight were insufficient.
The instructors’ legal representatives have stated that the operation had no prior fatal incidents during its years of activity.
Local officials are now calling for further investigation into responsibility for the site’s management and safety standards, arguing that the area had long presented known risks without adequate protection measures.
Freitas, who had recently graduated in physical education and sports management, had reportedly purchased the rope-jumping experience shortly before the accident.
