A tragic incident occurred when 21-year-old Maria Eduarda Rodrigues de Freitas lost her life after being pushed from a bridge during a bungee jumping event without being secured to a safety rope. Some staff members from the bungee company attempted to escape but were apprehended by the police. It has now come to light that one of them made a disturbing two-word statement to the authorities.
On Saturday, a 21-year-old woman fell about 40 meters (130 feet) from a bridge during a bungee jumping event in Limeira, São Paulo, Brazil.
The deceased, Maria Eduarda Rodrigues de Freitas, was reportedly pushed off the platform without being attached to a safety rope while jumping from the well-known “Skeleton Bridge.”
Witnesses reported that Maria Eduarda was led to the platform by two men before being let go over the edge. However, shortly after, onlookers noticed she was not equipped with the necessary safety gear and began to shout in alarm.
Footage circulating online showed the safety rope lying on the ground instead of being fastened to the victim’s harness. Emergency services arrived at the scene, but sadly, the young woman was declared dead at the location of the incident.
Witness accounts given to the Military Police indicate that the bungee instructors responsible for the jump did not secure the safety cord prior to the jump. Investigators are looking into the details of the incident to determine if safety measures were violated.
Bungee ‘instructor’s’ chilling 3-word statement when apprehended by police
Authorities have initiated an investigation into the tragic accident. Initially, it appeared that those responsible were reluctant to cooperate.
According to The Sun, some individuals believed to be accountable for the shocking incident reportedly fled into a nearby forest. However, police later found at least two suspects after conducting a helicopter search of the surrounding woodlands. They were arrested shortly after at the Ponte do Esqueleto trail.
One of the arrested individuals, Luis Felipe, informed local authorities that he and the instructors received approximately $34 for each jump. He mentioned that there were no specific responsibilities assigned to team members during the jumps, and that equipment checks were performed collectively.
Additionally, when questioned about who was in charge of the final safety check before 21-year-old Maria Eduarda Rodrigues de Freitas made her jump, he told the police, “I can’t remember.”
Six individuals apprehended after a woman was thrown to her death without a safety rope
One organizer, Luis Felipe, who claimed to earn around $34 per jump, told local police that the team members lacked defined responsibilities during the jump. Furthermore, equipment checks were conducted “jointly.”
Another suspect, Maicon Fernandes Cintra, reportedly provided the same response to the police. According to People Magazine, a total of six individuals have been questioned regarding de Freitas’ tragic fall, as confirmed by a representative from the São Paulo government.
Three men aged 27, 32, and 42 were arrested at the scene and charged with homicide with implied malice.
“It was a team that wasn’t regulated; they didn’t even have permission to be there,” Delegate Andrea Dantas Levy told G1, as reported by People. “They ended up organizing this event, and this tragedy occurred today, in my view, due to a failure to check and supervise the placement of the rope on the victim’s jump.”
Our thoughts and prayers are with Maria Eduarda’s family. Re
