What started out as an exciting adventure for Maria Eduarda Rodrigues de Freitas, 21, ended in tragedy when she was allegedly launched from a bridge without the proper safety precautions and plunged to her death.
The 21-year-old was preparing to take part in a bridge jump at Ponte do Esqueleto, also known as Skeleton Bridge, in Limeira, São Paulo, on Saturday when the fatal accident occurred.
Footage shared online appears to show Maria being carried by two workers in a Superman-style position before she is released from the bridge to make the jump. Seconds later, voices can be heard shouting, “The rope, people, the rope,” according to The Sun.
According to reports, Maria had not been connected to a safety rope before the jump. Military Police later indicated that employees allegedly failed to attach the safety equipment to her harness before she was released.
She fell more than 131 feet to the ground as staff members watched in horror.
Maria Eduarda Rodrigues de Freitas
Emergency crews, including firefighters, paramedics, and other first responders, rushed to the scene, where Maria was pronounced dead. Her body was later taken to the Legal Medical Institute as authorities launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident, according to The Mirror.
Maria’s fiancé was also at the scene when the accident happened. After learning she had died, he reportedly became ill and required medical treatment.
According to police, six people were arrested at the scene following the incident.
Meanwhile, Limeira City Council confirmed it plans to file a complaint against the Brazilian federal government.
“It is necessary to determine responsibility for the lack of access control to a federal area that has presented known risks for years and still lacks the necessary protection measures,” Limeira Mayor Murilo Félix said, according to VT.
Despite the fatal accident, future events at the same location continued to be advertised online afterward.
JUST IN: 21-year-old dies after workers forget to attach safety rope and push her off 40-meter bridge in São Paulo’s Limeira, Brazil pic.twitter.com/ceqniPJkUs
— Rapid Report (@RapidReport2025) June 13, 2026
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