21-year-old bungee jumper dies after being thrown off bridge without safety cord in Brazil

A tragic accident in Brazil has claimed the life of a 21-year-old woman during a bungee jump, after she was allegedly launched from a bridge without a safety cord. The incident occurred in Limeira, São Paulo state, on Saturday.

Maria Eduarda Rodrigues de Freitas, a Physical Education graduate, fell an estimated 40 meters (130 feet) from the Ponte do Esqueleto bridge. Reports indicate that the operators organizing the jump failed to secure the safety rope to her harness before she jumped. Witnesses described how crucial safety checks were bypassed, resulting in the fatal plunge.

Video footage circulating on social media captured the moment Freitas was pushed off the edge of the abandoned bridge, with the safety rope visibly left unsecured on the ground. Shocked witnesses could be heard reacting as they realized the cord had not been attached.

Emergency services confirmed Freitas's death at the scene due to multiple traumatic injuries. Her fiancé was reportedly present and witnessed the horrific event. Authorities detained several individuals associated with the organizing groups shortly after the incident, with some attempting to evade capture. Six people have been arrested in connection with the case, including three who were present at the site. The case is being treated as a homicide, with investigations focusing on safety violations and the lack of regulation at the abandoned structure used for the activity.