A young Brazilian woman who was thrown to her death after bungee jump staff allegedly failed to attach a safety rope was still alive in the moments after her fall, according to an off-duty nurse who rushed to help her.
Maria Eduarda Rodrigues de Freitas, 21, died on Saturday after plunging from the abandoned 130-foot Skeleton Bridge in Limeira, in São Paulo state, local authorities said.
The aspiring physical education teacher had reportedly requested to be launched “airplane style,” with two instructors lifting her above their shoulders while she stretched out her arms. Viral footage circulating online appears to show the moments before the fatal jump.
Authorities have since charged three men with homicide with eventual intent, a Brazilian legal classification used when a person does not intend to kill but acts with such recklessness that a death occurs.
Nurse reveals victim was still alive after fall
Shockingly, Rodrigues de Freitas did not die instantly after falling more than 100 feet to the ground, according to nurse Rayza Dias, who attempted to save her.
Dias described the difficult journey to reach the injured 21-year-old.
“I scraped my whole hand because there’s a steep slope down there and only one rope for us to climb down,” Dias told news show Domingo Espetacular on Sunday. “It was all covered in mud. I kept going down, down, we walked all the way.”
Nurse Rayza Dias revealed that Rodrigues de Freitas did not die instantly after falling more than 100 feet to the ground. Credit: Domingo Espetacular / YouTube
The nurse said Rodrigues de Freitas was still breathing heavily and had a weak pulse when she arrived and began providing emergency care.
Becoming emotional during the interview, Dias recalled speaking directly to the victim.
“I even talked to her. I have a habit of joking and saying, “Nobody dies on my shift.” And I told her, “Duda, nobody dies on my shift.” Even though I wasn’t on my shift there.”
“Duda” is a common nickname in Portuguese for women named Eduarda.
Three men charged after fatal mistake
Brazil’s military police told local media that two men fled the scene shortly after realizing the fatal error.
They were later located in a nearby wooded area by a police helicopter, while six people in total were taken in for questioning, according to the São Paulo Public Security Secretariat.
Three men were subsequently charged with homicide with eventual intent. Local reports identified them as Maicon Fernandes Cintra, 42, Luis Felipe Feliciano Egoroff, 32, and Vitor de Freitas Goncalves, 27.
According to investigators, the suspects claimed there was a “blackout” during preparations for the jump and said they “can’t remember” when or how the rope was not attached, or who was responsible for securing it.
No company has publicly accepted responsibility for the incident, and reports suggest the men may have been operating as an unauthorized group.
Questions raised over safety at abandoned bridge
The tragedy has also renewed scrutiny of safety concerns surrounding Skeleton Bridge, where another fatal accident occurred in 2024 when a cyclist reportedly lost control and fell to her death.
Because the bridge is abandoned, responsibility for access, maintenance and management falls to Brazil’s federal government.
Maria Eduarda Rodrigues de Freita, 21, tragically fell more than 130ft to her death. Credit: Instagram / Maria Eduarda Rodrigues de Freita
Following the cyclist’s death, federal authorities ordered Limeira municipality to block access and install warning signs. While the city complied, access points were later bypassed and adventure sports operators reportedly lobbied to keep the bridge open for commercial activities.
After Rodrigues de Freitas’s death, Limeira City Hall reiterated that the federal government was responsible for regulating the bridge and said it had repeatedly warned officials about the dangers posed by the site.
The city has also announced plans to take legal action against the federal government.
Mayor Murilo Felix said: “In addition to the circumstances that led to the young woman’s death, it is necessary to establish who is responsible for the lack of access control to a federal area which, for years, has posed known risks and is still without the necessary safety measures.
“We have been calling for action for months to ensure that the Federal Government assumes its responsibility. Unfortunately, its failure to act has just resulted in yet another tragedy in Limeira.”
Adding to the grim circumstances, Rodrigues de Freitas reportedly shared an image on Instagram shortly before the jump showing a warning sign featuring a skull and crossbones and the words: “Danger. Risk of death.”
She was buried in São Paulo on Sunday.
Hours after the funeral, her mother shared an emotional tribute on social media, writing: “That damned rope took you away from me forever.
“My beloved daughter, you are gone, and all that remains here is pain and longing. I will love you forever.”
