Lawyer gives update on suspects as woman plunges to her death after jumping with no safety cord
A legal representative for the workers at a rope jump in Brazil where a woman fell to her death as her safety line was allegedly not attached has spoken out on their behalf.
Maria Eduarda Rodrigues de Freitas, 21, died of injuries sustained in a 131 foot fall from Ponte do Esqueleto, nicknamed Skeleton Bridge, which is located near the Brazilian city of Limeira.
Witnesses described her turn at the rope jump as staff hoisted her aloft and she did a Superman pose, and just moment after Maria was let go someone shouted: "The rope, people, the rope!"
By then it was too late and the woman was already plummeting to the ground, and a nurse who was one of the first on the scene said the 21-year-old was still alive when she found her, though Maria was later pronounced dead at the scene.
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Three members of staff at the rope jump were arrested, Maicon Fernandes Cintra, 42, Luis Felipe Feliciano Egoroff, 32, and Vitor de Freitas Gonçalves, 27.
Witnesses claimed that they attempted to flee the scene and change their clothes, though they deny this.
They have been charged with homicide with implied malice, a charge which means police believe they didn't intend to kill Maria, but their actions mean they assume responsibility for the risk that led to her death.
Police spokesperson Andréa Dantas told O Globo: "It was a team there that wasn't regulated, didn't even have authorisation to be there, and this fatality ended up happening because, in my perception, of a failure to verify, not to supervise the placement of the rope for the victim's jump."
The group charged R$180 (£26.50) per jump. While the team wore t-shirts which seemed to have brand logos, police say no formal companies were involved in the jump.
The lawyer for the arrested men, Rafael Gomes dos Santos, told the Mirror that the men 'blacked out' in the immediate aftermath of the woman's tragic death.
"They are in a state of shock. They cannot explain what happened because they have been doing this for years. Nothing like this has ever happened," he said.
He told O Globo that 100 participants were gathered at the site at the time of the accident, and the men had been taking part in the sport for years without incident.
Police continue to investigate the matter, and say that the men have all said they can't remember what happened.
Cintra said in his testimony: "Usually it's Felipe who puts on the rope. In 99 percent of cases. And I assist with the operation. I participate in the check, I call the person, I check the helmet.
"But in her case, I don't remember. I don't remember."
The bridge's history of injuries and deaths
The bridge itself unfortunately has a rather grisly reputation as there are many visitors, with deaths and injuries there in recent years from people suffering terrible accidents.
As such, there is a sign for the bridge with a skeleton on it and a warning that says: "Danger. Risk of death."
Limeira city hall says responsibility for access control and maintenance of the bridge lies with the federal government.
Limeira's mayor Murilo Felix said, according to the Mirror: "In addition to the circumstances that led to the young woman's death, it is necessary to establish who is responsible for the lack of access control to a federal area which, for years, has posed known risks and is still without the necessary safety measures.
"We have been calling for action for months to ensure that the Federal Government assumes its responsibility. Unfortunately, its failure to act has just resulted in yet another tragedy in Limeira."
Timeline of accidents at Brazil's Skeleton Bridge
Ponte do Esqueleto, nicknamed Skeleton Bridge, was meant to be part of Brazil’s Federal Railway Network (RFFSA).
It’s been abandoned for around 30 years. However, it has remained popular with extreme sports enthusiasts, and this isn’t the first tragedy that has taken place there.
According to O Tempo, one businessman claimed the bridge receives 500 visitors a month.
April 2024
Mum-of-one Kelly Stefani de Oliveira Alves, 39, is cycling with her husband on the Skeleton Bridge when she loses her balance as her foot touches a low wall.
Tragically, she falls off the bridge and drops 15 metres with her bike, dying at the scene and leaving behind a seven-year-old son.
Following the accident, Brazil’s Ministry of Management and Innovation in Public Services (MGI) asks for the bridge to be closed and for danger signs to warn people not to go on it.
Nevertheless, activities at the site resumed.
August 2025
Two women fall from the Skeleton Bridge and suffer serious injuries.
One woman is taken to Santa Casa de Limeira hospital with critical injuries. Another suffers multiple fractures throughout her body.
Topics: World News, News
Joe Harker