A nurse has described the harrowing final moments of a young woman who plunged to her death in a bungee jumping tragedy, revealing she was still alive after hitting the ground. Maria Eduarda Rodrigues de Freitas, 21, fell from the abandoned 130-foot Skeleton Bridge in Sao Paulo on Saturday after being launched without a safety rope.
Nurse's Account
Rayza Dias, a nurse who rushed to her aid, told Brazilian television that Rodrigues de Freitas did not die immediately. "I scraped my whole hand because there is a steep slope down there and only one rope for us to climb down," Dias said on Domingo Espetacular on Sunday, describing the difficulty in reaching the victim. "It was all covered in mud. I kept going down, down, we walked all the way."
Dias disclosed that the victim was breathing heavily and had a faint pulse as she worked to deliver life-saving treatment. "I even talked to her. I have a habit of joking and saying, 'Nobody dies on my shift.' And I told her, 'Duda, nobody dies on my shift.' Even though I wasn't on my shift there," she said, becoming visibly emotional. "Duda" is a common affectionate term for a Portuguese woman named Eduarda.
Incident Details
According to local reports and a widely circulated video, Rodrigues de Freitas had asked to be launched "airplane style," with two instructors lifting her above their shoulders as she extended her arms. The operators allegedly failed to attach a rope to her harness. They have been charged with homicide with eventual intent, which applies when the defendant did not intend to kill but acted with extreme recklessness resulting in death.
Brazil's military police told local outlets that the two men fled the scene in Limeira after discovering their fatal error. A helicopter found them in a nearby wooded area, and the Sao Paulo Public Security Secretariat confirmed that six individuals were brought in for questioning. The accused insisted there was a "blackout" during preparation and they "can't remember" where or when they failed to attach the rope.
The three men detained have been identified as Maicon Fernandes Cintra, 42, Luis Felipe Feliciano Egoroff, 32, and Vitor de Freitas Gonçalves, 27.
Previous Tragedy
This is not the first fatal incident at the Skeleton Bridge. In 2024, a female cyclist crossing with friends lost control and plunged over the side to her death. Following that tragedy, the federal government instructed the municipality of Limeira to restrict access and erect warning signs, but the blocked entrance was quickly bypassed.
City Hall Response
After Rodrigues de Freitas's death, Limeira's City Hall stressed that the federal government is responsible for overseeing the bridge and had previously alerted authorities to the dangers. The city announced plans to pursue legal action against the Brazilian government for failing to monitor access to the abandoned railway. "In addition to the circumstances that led to the young woman's death, it is necessary to establish who is responsible for the lack of access control to a federal area which, for years, has posed known risks," said Mayor Murilo Felix. "We have been calling for action for months. Unfortunately, its failure to act has just resulted in yet another tragedy in Limeira."
Funeral and Family Grief
Rodrigues de Freitas was laid to rest in Sao Paulo on Sunday. Her mother took to social media hours after the funeral, writing, "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."
