Maria Eduarda Rodrigues de Freitas, aged 21, tragically died after staff at a bungee jumping site in Limeira, São Paulo, Brazil, neglected to attach her safety cord before she was launched from a 40-metre high bridge on 13 June 2026.
An off-duty nurse, Rayza Dias, who arrived at the scene shortly after the fall, reported that Maria was still alive and had a pulse. Rayza described how Maria was struggling to breathe but remained conscious during the critical moments after the accident.
Rayza Dias said, “I even talked to her… I told her, ‘Nobody dies on my shift,’ even though I wasn’t on my shift.”
The incident has sparked outrage due to the apparent negligence of the adventure sports operators responsible for the bungee jump. Authorities revealed that the group running the activity had no legal authorisation to conduct extreme sports at the bridge and failed to implement basic safety measures.
Local police detained six individuals connected to the bungee jump operation. Out of these, three have been formally arrested on suspicion of “homicide with dolus eventualis,” a charge indicating that they recognised the risks involved but proceeded regardless.
Maria’s death has led to widespread calls for justice and accountability over the reckless negligence that caused the fatal accident. The tragedy highlights the dangers of unregulated extreme sports activities in Brazil.
Friends and family of Maria Eduarda Rodrigues de Freitas are mourning her loss, while the nation closely follows the ongoing investigation. This heartbreaking case echoes similar fatal falls in adventure sports around the world.
Originally published by UKNIP.
