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Brazilian Student Dies After Bungee Launch; Three Instructors Detained

New video showing a missing harness check has prompted a criminal probe into alleged reckless indifference by the operators.

Overview

  • On June 13 a 21-year-old physical-education student, María Eduarda Rodrigues de Freitas, was launched from Ponte do Esqueleto in Limeira and fell about 40 meters, suffering fatal injuries.
  • Circulating footage shows two men holding María Eduarda aloft and launching her while witnesses shouted that the main safety rope was missing.
  • São Paulo police have detained three instructors and opened an investigation on charges described as homicidio con dolo eventual, a charge for reckless indifference to known risk.
  • The president of the Brazilian rope-jump association said operators did not follow basic safety protocols such as redundant harness checks and double verification.
  • The victim’s family has published a public letter calling the death a crime and demanding a full investigation, and authorities are continuing to gather video and witness evidence that could prompt wider oversight of informal adventure operators.