Warning: This article contains discussion of themes which some readers may find distressing.
A 21-year-old woman who died during a rope jump activity in Brazil had shared a social media post shortly before the incident, and it has since drawn renewed attention as police examine what happened.
Maria Eduarda Rodrigues de Freitas was pronounced dead on Saturday morning, June 13, after taking part in a rope jump at Ponte do Esqueleto, or Skeleton Bridge, in Limeira, São Paulo.
Authorities have opened an investigation into the events surrounding her death. Six people have reportedly been detained so far, with three remaining in custody as investigators work to establish exactly what happened and whether criminal charges will follow.
According to early reports, Maria Eduarda was launched from the structure without being attached to the safety cord, the line intended to secure jumpers during the fall.
In the aftermath, attention has also focused on what appears to have been her final Instagram post from the day of the jump.
Before the activity began, Maria posted images from the location and documented the outing on social media.
Alongside a photo featuring a company banner for Entre Cordas, she wrote: “Who was the crazy person who let me jump off a bridge?”
Video of the jump, which has since spread online, appears to show two members of staff escorting her to the edge of the bridge.
Reports allege that Maria was pushed from the bridge without being connected to the safety cord, the elastic line intended to support jumpers during the drop.
Just after she went over the edge, a voice in the footage can be heard shouting ‘the rope, people, the rope’, but the warning came too late.
She is reported to have fallen around 40 meters, or about 131 feet, as onlookers and staff watched in horror.
Emergency services, including firefighters and paramedics, were called to the scene, but she was pronounced dead at the site.
Her fiancé, who was also there at the time, reportedly became unwell after being told she had died and needed medical assistance.
Maria Eduarda was identified by local media as a physical education professional who had also studied sports management. She lived in Jandira, in the greater São Paulo area, and worked at a gym in the city.
Limeira City Council has said it intends to file a complaint against the Brazilian federal government. Mayor Murilo Félix said: “It is necessary to determine responsibility for the lack of access control to a federal area that has presented known risks for years and still lacks the necessary protection measures.”
Officials say the Ponte do Esqueleto, which sits on a disused stretch between Limeira and Cordeirópolis, has been abandoned for decades but remained popular with thrill-seekers and adventure-sports groups. The site has also been the scene of previous serious accidents, including a fatal fall in 2024.
The ongoing investigation will seek to establish exactly what happened, how the safety failure occurred, and whether criminal charges will be brought against anyone connected to the event.