A horrific accident occurred on the morning of June 13th at the Ponte do Esqueleto Bridge (also known as the “Skeleton Bridge”) in Limeira, São Paulo state, Brazil, resulting in the death of 21-year-old Maria Eduarda Rodrigues de Freitas while participating in a rope jump.
According to police and witnesses, Maria Eduarda went to the location to experience rope jumping from the bridge. However, a serious error is believed to have occurred when the operator forgot to attach a safety harness to her before the jump.
A video circulating on social media captured the final moments before the tragedy. In the clip, three operators escort Maria Eduarda to the jumping area. Just seconds later, she was pushed off the platform from a height of approximately 40 meters.
Immediately afterward, many people at the scene panicked upon discovering the incident. Firefighters and the SAMU emergency medical team quickly arrived at the scene, but the victim was confirmed ᴅᴇᴀᴅ.
Notably, just hours before the accident, Maria Eduarda had posted numerous images on social media. She shared pH๏τos of the bridge, her activity bracelet, and images of other participants performing jumps with full safety equipment.
The 21-year-old died after being thrown 40 meters into a ravine without a safety harness while bungee jumping; the scene sparked outrage – Image 2.
According to her personal page, Maria Eduarda graduated in physical education and sports management. She frequently shared images of outdoor activities and nature exploration trips.
Family and friends said the trip, which was expected to be an exciting weekend experience, ultimately became her last.
Six Arrested Following Incident
According to authorities, after the accident, two men fled the scene and were located in a nearby forest area with the ᴀssistance of an Águia police helicopter.
A total of six people involved have been arrested for questioning, with three reportedly still in custody while the investigation continues.
The case file has now been transferred to Limeira Police Station No. 2.
Images from the scene show the individuals in the video wearing shirts with the logos of two companies, Entre Cordas and Ih Voei, believed to be involved in rope jumping operations at the location. However, as of the time of this announcement, representatives from these companies have not issued any official comments.
City authorities plan to sue the federal government
Following the tragedy, the city of Limeira announced it will take legal action against the Brazilian federal government.
According to local authorities, the responsibility for inspecting, maintaining, and controlling access to the Ponte do Esqueleto bridge belongs to the federal agency. The city stated that it had repeatedly submitted requests for enhanced safety measures in the area but had received no concrete action.
“No substantive measures have been implemented,” the city authorities declared.
Mayor Murilo Félix said the incident once again highlighted long-standing concerns regarding safety at this location.
“Unfortunately, the delay and inaction of the federal government have led to yet another tragedy in Limeira,” he said.
Meanwhile, investigators are still trying to determine how a rope jump participant could have been pushed off a platform approximately 40 meters high without a safety harness, a basic safety procedure considered mandatory for this type of extreme sport.
The incident has sparked outrage on social media. Many expressed disbelief that such a basic mistake as forgetting to attach a safety harness could happen.
“They didn’t even check if the harness was attached before pushing her down. Unbelievable,” one commenter wrote.
Another remarked: “This isn’t just an accident, it’s a failure of basic safety procedures.”
Many also called for those responsible to be severely punished if the investigation confirms negligence or a violation of safety regulations.