A 21-year-old woman died after a freak bungee incident in São Paulo, Brazil, on Saturday, June 13, 2026.
In the viral video released to the public, an initially unidentified woman is seen being held up by two instructors and launched over a bridge without the bungee cord equipment attached. She plummeted approximately 130 feet headfirst into the ground.
Fatal Bungee Jump
The incident occurred on the border of Limeira and Cordeirópolis, in Ponte do Esqueleto, but in an interior part known as São Paulo. According to the São Paulo Governor’s Office, the video went viral on social media, showing the group standing at the Skeleton Bridge Trail in Limeira, the young woman preparing to jump off the cliff.
The Skeleton Bridge has been abandoned for years, and the federal government assumes responsibility for the incident. Brazil’s Secretariat of Federal Assets (SPU) said it would “assist the authorities in the investigations.“
Three men lift her while only two of them carry her over their heads to the very edge of the board, and throw her headfirst, assuming she was properly secured to the bungee cord. The victim was wearing a helmet, but the video clearly shows she was not attached to anything.
Arrests Made
“According to the police report, at the time of the jump, the safety equipment was not properly fixed,” the statement issued by the governor’s office said. “The victim did not resist the fall and death was confirmed by SAMU (Serviço de Atendimento Móvel de Urgência, or emergency medical service) teams.”
Authorities have not confirmed why the bungee cord was improperly secured before the activity, and it is unknown if they are aware. Six individuals were initially brought in for questioning, with three men aged 27, 32, and 42 being arrested and charged with homicide with eventual intent.
The men were arrested “in flagrante,” Latin for “caught red-handed,” meaning they were caught in the act of committing a crime. Brazilian law dictates that the charges apply to individuals who did not have the intent to kill but knowingly engaged in a dangerous and potentially fatal act.
The suspects have not been identified, and the governor’s office said, “Investigations continue to determine the circumstances and possible responsibilities.”
Victim’s Identity Revealed
The victim has since been identified as Maria Eduarda Rodrigues de Freitas. Emergency services pronounced her dead at the scene, and she was buried the following day. As she was thrown over, a bystander screamed at the instructors to attach her cord.
The men appeared to have white helmets and harnesses attached to a security rope, but failed to notice that the woman they were holding over the edge of a cliff had nothing beyond a helmet.
Community Outraged
The City Hall of Limeira (SP) stated its intent to sue the federal government for failing to manage the abandoned bridge and to prevent incidents such as this fatal bungee jump. SP said it “had been adopting administrative measures and demanding action from the federal agencies responsible for the area.“
The victim’s death “makes the continuation of this omission unsustainable and unacceptable,” the statement added.
High-Intensity Sport
Bungee jumping is a high-intensity sport designed to boost an individual’s adrenaline. Through reputable companies, instructors harness a person to a large elastic cord, with a backup attached as well. The thrill-seeker then jumps from a tall structure, most commonly a bridge, cliff, or canyon in a natural geographical area.
Local authorities said the activity was hosted by a private company that offers rope-jumping, but some local reports suggest the instructors belonged to an unestablished group of practitioners.
Moving forward, the community hopes this will never happen again, and many prayers have been sent to Rodrigues de Freitas’s loved ones.
