Three bungee jump workers who allegedly threw a model to her death after failing to attach her safety cord have appeared in court, claiming they cannot remember who was responsible for the crucial check.
Fatal Jump in Brazil
Maria Eduarda Rodrigues de Freitas, a teacher and model, fell 130 feet to her death from the Skeleton Bridge in Limeira, São Paulo, Brazil, in front of horrified witnesses who could be heard shouting, “the rope people, the rope.” She was carried in a Superman pose before being hurled off the bridge.
Arrests and Court Appearance
Three men were arrested on suspicion of homicide with eventual intent. They were walked into court on Monday, where they claimed there was a “blackout” during the stunt’s setup and cannot remember who should have attached the safety cord. The trio, remanded in custody, have been named as Maicon Fernandes Cintra, 42, Luis Felipe Feliciano Egoroff, 32, and Vitor de Freitas Gonçalves, 27.
Luis Felipe, who said he earned just £26.50 per jump, told police that team members had no set responsibilities during jumps and that equipment checks were carried out “jointly.” When asked who was responsible for the final safety checks, he replied, “I can’t remember.” Maicon Fernandes Cintra reportedly gave the same answer.
Lawyer's Statement
Their lawyer, Rafael Gomes dos Santos, said: “They are in a state of shock. They cannot explain what happened because they have been doing this for years. Nothing like this has ever happened.”
Video Evidence
Video footage shows Maria Eduarda being carried horizontally by her arms and legs in a Superman pose at the top of the abandoned railway bridge. After she was thrown off, instructors looked down as the camera panned to show the safety line still lying on the platform.
Family's Grief
Maria Eduarda’s devastated mother, Valdenia, expressed her grief after her daughter’s funeral. She posted online: “That damned rope took you away from me forever. My beloved daughter, you are gone and all that remains here is pain and longing. I will love you forever.”
Social Media Posts
In Instagram stories published moments before her death, the gym worker shared photos of the representatives of the private company that organized the jump. She had uploaded posts excited about the jump and pictures of the venue. “Who was the crazy person who let me jump off a bridge?” she wrote beside a photo of an Entre Cordas banner.
The jump involved bungee operator Entre Cordas and instructor brand Ih Voei. Staff at the scene wore shirts bearing both brand names. Entre Cordas’ Instagram page, which advertised “a jump to the extraordinary,” was reportedly taken down after the incident.
