Woman dies in Brazil after being thrown off bridge without safety rope
A 21-year-old woman died in Limeira, Brazil, when rope-jumping instructors threw her off a 40-meter bridge without securing a safety rope. Three people have been arrested on suspicion of homicide with eventual intent.
Tragedy in Limeira
On Sunday, June 15, a funeral was held for 21-year-old Maria Eduarda Rodrigues de Freitas in São Paulo state, Brazil, after she died dramatically on Saturday while rope-jumping. In the town of Limeira, about 150 km from São Paulo, two instructors from the company "Entre Cordas" launched her from the 40-meter-high Ponte do Esqueleto bridge without attaching a safety rope. Rescue teams arrived, but the victim suffered severe multiple trauma and was pronounced dead at the scene.
Viral videos show shock
Videos shared on social media captured onlookers' anguish as they realized the young woman had no safety rope. One witness is heard saying, "She's got no rope." The footage shows two men in white helmets hurling Freitas from the bridge.
Arrests and investigation
Three of the six detained individuals, all employees of the company, have been placed in pre-trial detention on suspicion of "homicide with eventual intent," meaning they were aware of the risk of death but proceeded anyway. Police stated that investigations are ongoing to determine the circumstances. According to Brazilian media, the suspects attempted to flee but were located with the help of a helicopter.
Victim's aspirations and previous practice
Maria Eduarda aspired to become a physical education teacher. Shortly before the accident, she posted a picture of the bridge on Instagram with the caption: "Who was the crazy person who let me come and jump off a bridge???" Previous videos of the sport by Entre Cordas show participants with a thick safety rope around their waist. Rope jumping differs from bungee jumping in that it uses a less elastic rope, causing participants to swing back and forth rather than bounce.
