Three instructors in Brazil have been charged with homicide after the death of a 21-year-old woman during a rope jumping activity from a bridge in São Paulo state. The incident has raised serious concerns about safety standards, supervision, and the regulation of extreme sports activities in the country.
The victim, identified as 21-year-old Maria Eduarda Rodrigues de Freitas, died on June 13 after falling from the Ponte do Esqueleto, also known as the Skeleton Bridge, in the city of Limeira. She had signed up for a guided rope jumping experience offered at the site, which is a disused railway bridge often used for adventure activities.
According to authorities, three instructors involved in the activity have been arrested and charged with homicide with eventual intent. The suspects are 32-year-old Luis Felipe Feliciano Egoroff, 27-year-old Vitor de Freitas Goncalves, and 42-year-old Maicon Fernandes Cintra. Police said the men were detained the day after the incident after allegedly attempting to leave the area.
Under Brazilian law, the charge applies when a person engages in risky conduct that leads to death, even if there was no direct intention to kill. The suspects remain in custody while the investigation continues.
Police investigators say early findings suggest a major failure in safety procedures. Authorities allege that the victim was not properly connected to safety ropes before the jump. Officials also reported that the instructors themselves admitted there was confusion about who was responsible for checking her equipment before the jump took place.
Witnesses described a chaotic scene at the bridge. Some said the woman was thrown from the structure without a visible safety line attached. Emergency services, including a police helicopter, were called to the site, but she died at the scene after falling approximately 40 meters, or around 131 feet.
Videos circulating on social media appear to show the moments leading up to the tragedy. In the footage, the woman can be seen wearing a helmet as she is moved toward the edge of the bridge by staff. Other clips reportedly show instructors lifting her before she is released from the structure, with no clear rope visible at the time.
Witnesses also claimed that a rope was later seen still on the bridge after the fall, raising further questions about how the equipment was handled. Authorities are now reviewing video evidence and eyewitness accounts as part of the ongoing investigation.
Police investigator Andrea Levy said the group operating the activity may not have been properly authorized to conduct jumps at the site. She added that the operation appeared unregulated and lacked proper oversight, which may have contributed to the fatal mistake.
Officials believe the incident may have been caused by a breakdown in basic safety checks. Investigators are focusing on whether standard procedures were followed and how responsibility for equipment inspection was assigned among staff members.
The instructors’ defense lawyer has stated that the group has operated for several years without any previous fatal accidents. However, authorities say this is now being examined as part of a wider review of the company’s safety history and practices.
The case has also raised questions about the use of the bridge itself for extreme sports activities. Local authorities in Limeira are considering legal action, arguing that the site has long been known to pose risks and may not have had proper safety controls in place for commercial use.
City officials are expected to file complaints against federal authorities over the lack of regulation and oversight at the location. They argue that stronger safety measures should have been enforced to prevent unauthorized or unsafe activities.
Before her death, Maria Eduarda Rodrigues de Freitas had recently completed her studies in physical education and sports management. Reports say she had purchased the rope jumping experience as part of an adventure activity.
As investigations continue, Brazilian authorities are working to determine exactly how the safety failure occurred and who should be held legally responsible for the fatal incident.
