Harrowing final moments before hiker falls 500ft to death after posing for photo on cliff edge

A hiker who was reportedly hoping to take a social-media worthy snap at the summit of a mountain tragically plunged to his death.

Caio Rocha Aguiar Arrabal, 44, tumbled 500ft after climbing onto a rock formation at the top of the Pedra do Macaco mountain trail in Brazil.

Harrowingly, his final moments before the fatal fall were captured on camera by another member of the group who he had headed on the trek with.

Arrabal was seen scaling a precarious-looking rock that sits at the summit of the trail in Marica, near Rio de Janeiro, on Sunday (28 June) morning, just moments before tragedy struck.

Reports claim that several people have been involved in accidents at the scenic spot, which tourists reach after hiking up the trail for around 40 minutes.

The keen hiker, 44, passed away after plunging down the rock face (Newsflash)

Arrabal was seen descending the large rock and trying to find his footing, before turning around so that he could make his way down backwards.

He then seemed to somewhat loose his grip, before briefly landing on what appeared to be a ledge - but horrifically, he lost his balance and plummeted 500ft to his death.

Local media reported that the woman who was filming Arrabal's risky endeavour was heard warning him to 'be careful' just seconds prior to him falling from the summit.

Officials launched a recovery operation that is said to have taken around four hours after being alerted to the incident, which forced them to make their way through thick vegetation and across rugged terrain.

Matheus Moura, of the Maricá Civil Defence, said: "We had to go in through a densely wooded area with extremely difficult access to reach him.

He was seen battling to regain his grip after falling from the summit (Newsflash)

"We had to climb, ascend using ropes, and carry out several procedures before getting to the site," Matheus added, explaining that visitors commonly climb the rock for photographs.

He claimed that the incident was not the first of its kind in the area, while noting that Arrabal descended the rock via the wrong side before the fatal fall.

Arrabal was unable to be saved and was pronounced dead at the scene. Rescue teams reportedly used ropes and a helicopter to recover his body.

It is understood that there is a lack of warning signs on the Pedra do Macaco mountain trail, despite certain areas having deadly potential.

Arrabal's brother said he died 'doing what he loved' (Newsflash)

A man believed to be Arrabal's brother, Tairo Arrabal, paid tribute to the hiker in a post on social media.

"My brother, Caio, passed away today as a result of an accident while doing what he loved: hiking in his beloved Lakes Region," he wrote, as per local news outlet Estadao.

Sadly, travellers losing their lives in the pursuit of taking an impressive photograph is not a rare occurrence these days.

Last year, a 53-year-old Russian woman died after she leaned out of a train carriage to take a selfie while she was in Sri Lanka and travelling along the famous Podi Menike route.

And in 2024, a Chinese woman tumbled into an active volcano in Banyuwangi, Indonesia, in front of her horrified husband after stumbling while taking snaps.