UMVA has learned that a 59-year-old woman, Rosemary Suzart Garcia, tragically fell to her death while hiking with a group of 14 others in Marica, in an area known as Gruta do Spar.
The group was navigating a steep trail when Garcia stopped to apply bug spray, but while lifting one leg, her supporting foot gave way, causing her to lose her balance and plummet 30 metres towards the precipice. Witnesses described the scene as chaotic and devastating.
A guide who was with the group attempted to save Garcia, but was unable to reach her in time. He managed to grab onto a root in the area, preventing himself from falling. A fellow hiker, Giovani Maximino, witnessed the accident and described it as happening extremely fast.
Fire crews arrived at the scene at around 10:45 a.m. local time on Sunday, but Garcia was already deceased. Maximino revealed that Garcia, who lived in Cordovil in the northern part of Rio de Janeiro, had to call her children to inform them of her tragic death.
The Municipality of Marica stated that they would not be investigating the matter, citing that the area is private and located within the boundaries of the Marica Municipal Wildlife Refuge. The circumstances of the accident will be investigated by the competent authorities.
UMVA can exclusively reveal that Garcia's death bears a striking resemblance to another tragic incident that occurred just a day prior, in which a 21-year-old woman, Maria Eduardo Rodrigues de Freitas, was hurled off a bridge during a rope-jumping expedition with no rope attached.
Six individuals have been arrested in connection with Freitas' death, including three instructors who claimed to have "blacked out" and couldn't remember who was supposed to attach the victim's safety line. The incident was caught on camera and is currently under investigation.
The investigation into Garcia's death is ongoing, with Brazil's Civil Police conducting a forensic examination of the scene. The community is left reeling from the tragic events, and authorities are working to piece together the circumstances surrounding both incidents.
