Credit: Maria Eduarda Rodrigues de Freitas / Instagram
Authorities Issue Update On Rope Jumper ‘Thrown To Her Death’ As Staff ‘Forgot To Attach Rope’
Authorities in Brazil have issued an update after a young model died, when she was ‘thrown to her death’ during an unlicensed rope jump, as disturbing footage emerges.
Maria Eduarda Rodriguez de Freitas tragically lost her life this weekend after a rope jump ended in disaster when staff allegedly failed to secure her safety gear.
Rope jumping is a popular extreme sport that differs from traditional bungee jumping. Instead of an elastic cord, participants are attached to a low-stretch climbing rope, allowing them to free-fall before swinging in a pendulum motion rather than bouncing back upward.
The 21-year-old was participating in a jump from a bridge in São Paulo state, Brazil. Footage that has since spread widely online shows her being lifted into the air in an airplane-style position, with her arms extended out to either side.
However, neither de Freitas nor those filming the jump reportedly realized that her safety equipment had not been properly attached until it was too late. Moments later, she fell approximately 130 feet from the bridge below.
Emergency responders arrived at the scene but ultimately pronounced her dead.
Nurse claims victim was alive after the fall
Although authorities declared de Freitas dead at the scene, new reports suggest she may have survived for a short time following the devastating accident.
Rayza Dias, an off-duty nurse who rushed to assist, told Brazilian television network Domingo Espetacular that the young woman was still alive when she reached her.
Speaking about the difficult rescue attempt, Dias said: “I scraped my whole hand because there’s a steep slope down there and only one rope for us to climb down.
“It was all covered in mud. I kept going down, down, we walked all the way.”
The nurse went on to reveal that she was able to communicate with de Freitas after the fall.
“I even talked to her. I have a habit of joking and saying, ‘Nobody dies on my shift.’ And I told her, ‘Duda [Eduarda], nobody dies on my shift.’ Even though I wasn’t on my shift there.”
Viral video captures horrifying moment
Disturbing footage of the fatal incident has been circulating widely across social media platforms.
The viral video reportedly shows de Freitas being held by three men on the so-called Skeleton Bridge in Ponte do Esqueleto. Two men wearing white helmets appear to be holding her by the arms, while another supports her legs.
Moments after she is pushed from the bridge, a witness can reportedly be heard shouting at the operators to attach her rope.
Meanwhile, the three men involved appear to be wearing harnesses connected to safety lines.
“Guys, the rope!” is the translated version of the warning allegedly shouted by onlookers as the tragedy unfolded. Police say de Freitas’ fiancé was among those watching from the bridge.
Haunting final Instagram post resurfaces
Just hours before the fatal accident, de Freitas shared what would become her final post on social media.
The Instagram story appeared to show the view from the top of the bridge where the jump later took place.
Alongside the image, she wrote in Portuguese: “Who was the crazy person who let me jump off a bridge???”
In the aftermath of the tragedy, the post has taken on a particularly chilling significance.
Three operators arrested in connection with death
Authorities have arrested three men who were allegedly running the unlicensed rope-jumping operation and charged them with homicide.
According to reports, two of the suspects fled the scene after the incident and were later located with the assistance of a military helicopter before being taken into custody.
Police are investigating whether the men could face allegations of homicide with eventual intent. Under Brazilian law, this refers to situations in which someone may not intend to kill but knowingly accepts the risk that their actions could result in death, according to Brazilian news outlet Globo.
Three additional workers connected to the site were also detained during the initial investigation but were later released without charges.
There have also been claims that one worker removed a GoPro recording device from de Freitas’ person after the fall, which has not yet been recovered.
Disturbing footage of instructor emerges
An alarming video posted by one of the safety instructors on social media is causing uproar in Brazil due to its disturbing nature.
The clip, which was posted by instructor Luis Felipe Feliciano Egoroff, shows him and two other instructors throwing a black bag which is made to look like it contains a body, off the same bridge de Freitas was thrown from.
Along with the caption, ‘Hiding the body,’ the clip has resurfaced nearly four years later with significantly darker undertones following the 21-year-old’s tragic death.
Related Article: Rope Jumper Shared Chilling Final Post Just Moments Before Being Thrown Off Bridge With No Cord
Related Article: Terrifying Moment Tourist’s Bungee Jump Completely Snaps Mid-Air
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