The grieving mother of a 21-year-old woman who died in a bungee jumping accident in Brazil has spoken publicly for the first time, saying she is left with nothing but 'pain and longing.'
Mother's Heartbreaking Message
Valdenia Rodrigues shared an emotional message on social media following the funeral of her daughter, Maria Eduarda Rodrigues de Freitas, who died after falling more than 130 feet from Skeleton Bridge in Limeira, Sao Paulo state, on Saturday morning. In her tribute, the devastated mother described the rope that was never attached before the jump as 'damned and cursed.' Her comments came as investigators revealed that three workers arrested over the incident have told police they cannot remember who was responsible for securing the rope before the fatal leap.
Details of the Accident
Maria Eduarda, a gym worker from Jandira, had been fitted with a helmet and appeared to be wearing a harness before the jump. However, authorities say she was not connected either to the bridge or to a bungee cord when she was pushed from the structure. Three men have been remanded in custody after appearing before a judge. They have been identified locally as Maicon Fernandes Cintra, 42, Luis Felipe Feliciano Egoroff, 32, and Vitor de Freitas Goncalves, 27.
Video footage circulating online reportedly shows the trio escorting Maria Eduarda onto the bridge. In the recording, two men lift her into a superman-style position moments before the jump, while voices in the background can be heard shouting: 'The rope, people, the rope.'
Workers' Statements
During questioning, Luis Felipe told investigators that staff members did not have fixed responsibilities when preparing jumps and that safety inspections were carried out collectively. The worker, who said he received 180 Brazilian Reals (around 30 euros) for each jump, was asked who had carried out the final safety check before Maria Eduarda's jump. He replied: 'I can't remember.' Police say Maicon Fernandes Cintra gave the same response.
The suspects' lawyer, Rafael Gomes dos Santos, said overnight: '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.'
Social Media Posts Before the Tragedy
Shortly before the fatal accident, Maria Eduarda had posted a series of Instagram Stories showing representatives of the private company that organised the jump. Alongside one image, she joked: 'Who was the crazy person who let me jump off a bridge!' Following her death, the gym where she worked announced it would temporarily close as a sign of respect. In a statement, it said: 'At this moment of pain our priority is to be with our team and our hearts.'
Renewed Safety Scrutiny
The tragedy has also renewed scrutiny of safety concerns surrounding Skeleton Bridge. Limeira Town Hall announced plans to take legal action against the Brazilian government, accusing federal authorities of failing to properly regulate and monitor access to the disused railway bridge. Officials pointed to previous incidents at the location, including the death of a 39-year-old cyclist who fell from the bridge in April 2024 and another accident last August in which two women suffered serious injuries.
Limeira Mayor Murilo Felix called for accountability, saying: '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 and is still without the necessary safety measures. We have been calling for action for months to ensure that the Federal Government assumes its responsibility. Unfortunately, its failure to act has just resulted in yet another tragedy in Limeira.'
