In brief
Maria Eduarda Rodrigues de Freitas, 21, fell 40 metres in São Paulo after rope‑jump instructors failed to secure a rope before letting her go. Three men were arrested as police investigate possible culpable homicide. The incident sparked outrage, prompting local authorities to threaten action against the federal agency responsible for the abandoned bridge.
In the interior of São Paulo, a viral video shows a 21‑year‑old woman being lifted to the edge of an abandoned bridge on the limit of Limeira and Cordeirópolis before she was released into a 40‑metre (130‑foot) fall. Emergency services declared her dead at the scene.
Three men who were leading the rope‑jump were arrested. Police are determining whether their conduct constitutes culpable homicide, i.e. intentional negligence, after witnesses reported the instructors failed to attach a safety rope.
The incident has sparked calls for better oversight of non‑regulated extreme‑sport sites. City Hall of Limeira has announced it will sue the federal government for failing to manage the Skeleton Bridge, which remains under federal responsibility.
Local officials noted the instructors belonged to a private company that offered rope‑jump experiences, though some reports suggest informal practitioners may have been involved. The city’s statement emphasised that the incident demonstrates the brutality of ignoring safety protocols.
Rope‑jumping differs from bungee jumping in that low‑stretch climbing ropes create a horizontal pendulum swing rather than a vertical bounce, reducing the danger of impact but still requiring proper safety measures.
