World4 min(s) read
Published 10:23 17 Jun 2026 GMT
A bungee jump worker made a startling admission to police after a 21-year-old woman plunged 130ft to her death when she was thrown from a bridge without a safety rope attached.
Luis Felipe Feliciano Egoroff, 32, Vitor de Freitas Gonçalves, 27, and Maicon Fernandes Cintra, 42, were arrested following the death of Maria Eduarda Rodrigues de Freitas in Limeira, Brazil, on Saturday.
The aspiring teacher and sports management student fell after being launched from Skeleton Bridge during a bungee jump.
She was pronounced dead at the scene.
Police footage reportedly shows the three men struggling to explain the error during questioning.
Luis and Maicon admitted they were responsible for setting up the ropes before the jump, but neither could clearly explain who was responsible for which tasks.
Luis, who said he earned around $34 per jump, told investigators that responsibilities were not assigned to specific team members and that equipment checks were carried out together.
When asked who performed the final safety inspection before Maria's jump, he replied: "I can't remember," per The Sun.
According to reports, Maicon gave the same answer.
Vitor told police he was called to assist Maria after the fall, but could not explain what happened to a camera she had been holding before the jump.
However, witness Rafael Goulart alleged he saw an employee remove the device from the victim after the incident.
"The first scene I remember when I saw the girl on the ground was seeing one of the employees removing the GoPro camera from the neck strap of the body that was already on the ground, either worried about the equipment or wanting to hide evidence," he told EPTV.
The three men have since been charged with homicide with implied malice.
Their lawyer, Rafael Gomes dos Santos, said he strongly disagreed with the classification of the crime.
In a statement, he said the accused never intended or assumed the risk of causing Maria's death.
He described all three as passionate about the sport who had never experienced previous problems, calling the tragedy a "sad fatality".
Just minutes before the accident, Maria shared a post on Instagram showing the view from Skeleton Bridge. "Who was the crazy person who let me jump off a bridge???" she wrote.
In other posts, she documented her day at the attraction, sharing pictures of her identification wristbands, the location, and even some of the employees involved in the jump operation.
According to local reports, the young woman was unaware that a crucial safety rope had not been attached to her harness before she was thrown from the bridge.
Horrifying footage captured the moment two workers carried her in a Superman-style position before launching her into the air.
Seconds later, shocked witnesses realized something had gone terribly wrong.
Footage reportedly shows the unused rope still lying on the platform as Maria began falling.
Voices can be heard shouting: "The rope, people, the rope."
The tragedy unfolded in front of several witnesses, including Maria's fiancé, who reportedly became ill after learning she had died. Emergency services provided him with medical assistance at the scene.
Police allege some of the workers involved changed their clothes after the incident, while at least two tried to escape.
Authorities said they were apprehended shortly afterwards near the Ponte do Esqueleto trail after a helicopter tracked them down.
Officials in Limeira are investigating how the fatal accident occurred and whether adequate safety measures were in place.
Meanwhile, Maria's distraught mother, Valdenia Rodrigues, has spoken publicly about her grief.
"That damn rope took you forever from me," she reportedly said, per ITV. "My beloved daughter, you left, and here there is only pain and longing. I love you forever."
Our thoughts continue to be with Maria's family.
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