What instructors said about not attaching woman to ropes before she died in horrific incident
Topics: News, World News, Crime
Rhiannon Ingle
Featured Image Credit: NBC
Topics: News, World News, Crime
Maria Eduarda Rodrigues de Freitas died over the weekend after being thrown off a bridge with a 130ft drop in Limeira, São Paulo, Brazil, by rope jumping instructors who allegedly failed to attach her safety rope on Saturday (13 June).
Footage from the incident shows two staff members carrying Rodrigues de Freitas to the edge of the abandoned railway bridge, known as 'Skeleton Bridge', in a Superman pose, with her arms and legs in a horizontal position before launching her into the abyss while a third man looked on.
Prior to throwing her over the edge, the pair appeared not to notice she wasn't attached to any security equipment. She seems to be wearing a helmet, but no safety cord is visible.
Onlookers were heard telling the staff members, 'the rope, people, the rope'.
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Rodrigues de Freitas was declared dead from multiple injuries by paramedics at the scene.
Three men have since been charged for the 21-year-old physical education and sports management graduate's death.
Luis Felipe Feliciano Egoroff, 32, Vitor de Freitas Goncalves, 27, and Maicon Fernandes Cintra, 42, were arrested on Sunday (14 June) and charged with homicide with eventual intent, according to local officials.
This means that police don't believe the men intended to kill Rodrigues de Freitas, but their actions mean they assumed responsibility for the risk that led to her death.
Police investigator Andrea Levy has since told reporters that the three jumping instructors involved in the incident acknowledged that Rodrigues de Freitas was not connected to safety ropes when she jumped off the bridge.
"They do not remember whether they forgot to attach [the ropes], or who was supposed to do it, or who failed to check. But the fact is, the ropes were not attached to her," Levy said.
Local outlet O Globo reports that none of the three men could explain what went wrong during the victim's jump.
"Usually it's Felipe who puts on the rope. In 99 percent of cases," Cintra alleged. "And I assist with the operation.
"I participate in the check, I call the person, I check the helmet."
He added: "But in her case, I don't remember. I don't remember."
Tributes from across the world have poured in for Rodrigues de Freitas.
According to local reports, the woman's mother wrote on social media: "My beloved daughter, today alone I wanted to hug you more than a thousand times.
"How much your departure hurts me. I love you eternally, my princess.
"And thank you so much for being a part of my life for these 21 years. What an honour it was to hear you call me mom. God, thank you for this privilege."
Ponte do Esqueleto, nicknamed Skeleton Bridge, was meant to be part of Brazil’s Federal Railway Network (RFFSA).
It’s been abandoned for around 30 years. However, it has remained popular with extreme sports enthusiasts, and this isn’t the first tragedy that has taken place there.
According to O Tempo, one businessman claimed the bridge receives 500 visitors a month.
Mum-of-one Kelly Stefani de Oliveira Alves, 39, is cycling with her husband on the Skeleton Bridge when she loses her balance as her foot touches a low wall.
Tragically, she falls off the bridge and drops 15 metres with her bike, dying at the scene and leaving behind a seven-year-old son.
Following the accident, Brazil’s Ministry of Management and Innovation in Public Services (MGI) asks for the bridge to be closed and for danger signs to warn people not to go on it.
Nevertheless, activities at the site resumed.
Two women fall from the Skeleton Bridge and suffer serious injuries.
One woman is taken to Santa Casa de Limeira hospital with critical injuries. Another suffers multiple fractures throughout her body.