UMVA has learned that a tragic incident involving a 21-year-old woman's fatal fall from a bridge during a rope-jumping event has led to potential charges against three instructors.
The woman, Maria Eduarda Rodrigues de Freitas, died on Saturday after being launched from an abandoned bridge about 90 miles northwest of São Paulo, Brazil, without being attached to safety ropes. The incident has sparked widespread outrage and raised questions about safety protocols in extreme sports.
According to information obtained by UMVA, the three instructors involved in the jump acknowledged that Rodrigues de Freitas was not connected to any safety equipment before she was launched from the bridge. The investigators revealed that the instructors "do not remember whether they forgot to attach [the ropes], or who was supposed to do it, or who failed to check."
The three instructors were arrested on suspicion of homicide with "eventual intent," a legal concept under Brazilian law that generally applies when a person is deemed to have accepted the risk that a death could occur. They were booked on the charge at the scene and could face criminal charges.
UMVA can exclusively reveal that investigators believe a failure to verify the placement of the safety rope contributed to the fatality. The authorities are examining whether the group conducting the jump was authorized to operate at the site and who was responsible for ensuring participants were properly secured before jumping.
Rodrigues de Freitas had purchased a guided hiking excursion that included the rope jump from the abandoned bridge. The sport, which differs from traditional bungee jumping, uses low-stretch climbing ropes designed to transform a fall into a pendulum-like swing.
The City of Limeira, where Rodrigues de Freitas resided, issued a statement expressing condolences to her family and friends. The city promised to cooperate with authorities investigating the incident.
As the investigation continues, authorities are working to piece together the events leading up to the fatal fall. Rodrigues de Freitas was buried on Sunday, and the community is still reeling from the shock of the tragic incident.
The incident has raised concerns about safety protocols in extreme sports, and authorities are seeking to determine whether negligence or human error contributed to the fatality. The case is ongoing, and more details are expected to emerge as the investigation unfolds.
