A 21‑year‑old Brazilian woman, Maria Eduarda Rodrigues de Freitas, was fatally dropped from an abandoned bridge in the state of São Paulo after rope‑jumping instructors failed to secure the rope.
The incident, captured in viral footage over the weekend, was livestreamed from Ponte do Esqueleto, a narrow “Skeleton Bridge” on the border of Limeira and Cordeirópolis. Three men responsible for the jump were arrested; authorities are investigating whether they bear homicide charges.
Brazil’s Secretariat of Federal Assets said the bridge “is available to assist the authorities in the investigations”, while the City Hall of Limeira announced it would sue the federal government for neglecting the structure’s upkeep.
Rope‑jumping differs from bungee‑jumping in that it uses low‑stretch ropes that swing the participant horizontally, a fact that may have contributed to the tragedy when no rope was applied.
The death underscores the urgent need for strict safety protocols and better management of abandoned infrastructure used for extreme sports.
