A 21-year-old woman was killed in a horrific bungee jumping accident in Brazil after being pushed off a bridge before her safety harness had been secured.

Maria Eduarda Rodrigues de Freitas, 21, arrived at the infamous Skeleton Bridge (Ponte do Esqueleto) in the city of Limeira to take part in a 40-meter bungee jump challenge.

According to investigators, staff members pushed the young woman off the bridge without properly attaching her safety rope. In footage of the incident, a witness can be heard desperately shouting, “Watch the rope!” moments before three employees pushed Freitas into the jump.

Cô gái trẻ qua đời vì sự tắc trách của nhân viên.

Six people connected to the incident have been arrested, and three are now facing homicide charges. What has further outraged the Brazilian public is the explanation given by the employees during police questioning.

The young woman lost her life due to what authorities describe as a catastrophic failure in safety procedures.

The employees reportedly told police they were confused and could not determine where the mistake occurred or who was responsible for securing the safety equipment.

In a statement to local media, police said: “They cannot remember where the failure happened, who was supposed to secure the rope, or whether there was a lapse in supervision. Their conduct was extremely irresponsible. These employees are deeply confused because they have performed this job for years and claim nothing like this has ever happened before.”

The investigation remains ongoing, and authorities are awaiting forensic examination reports.

Murilo Felix, the mayor of Limeira, said in a statement on June 14 that, in addition to determining the circumstances surrounding the young woman’s death, it is essential to establish accountability on the part of those managing the operation.

Freitas’s family has been devastated by the tragedy. Her mother posted on social media that a thorough investigation is needed to ensure no other family experiences a similar loss.

Cây cầu bỏ hoang nơi xảy ra vụ tai nạn.

This marks the third serious accident linked to Skeleton Bridge, sparking renewed calls for authorities to review safety conditions at the site. In 2014, another fatality occurred there during an unsafe bungee jumping activity.

Originally part of Brazil’s Federal Railway Network (RFFSA), Skeleton Bridge has been abandoned for nearly 30 years. Despite this, it remains a popular destination for adventure sports enthusiasts, and this is far from the first tragedy associated with the location.

Local media reports indicate that the bridge attracts around 500 visitors each month.

In April 2024, Kelly Stefani de Oliveira Alves, 39, was cycling across Skeleton Bridge with her husband when she reportedly lost her balance after her foot struck a low wall. She fell approximately 15 meters from the bridge along with her bicycle and died at the scene.

Following that accident, Brazil’s Ministry of Management and Innovation in Public Services (MGI) ordered the bridge closed and required warning signs to be installed to keep visitors away. However, activities at the site reportedly continued.

Then, in August 2025, two more women fell from Skeleton Bridge and suffered severe injuries. One was rushed to Santa Casa de Limeira Hospital in critical condition, while the other sustained multiple traumatic injuries and numerous fractures throughout her body.