Brazil's 'Skeleton Bridge' where woman, 21, died in horrific rope jump incident linked to several other accidents

Long before Maria Eduarda Rodrigues de Freitas was thrown to her death by bungee instructors who failed to attach her safety rope, locals had warned about the area's deadly 'Skeleton Bridge'.

Rodrigues de Freitas, from Jandira, Brazil, died over the weekend while rope jumping from a 130ft drop in Limeira, São Paulo.

The 21-year-old fell 130ft after two members of staff threw her off the abandoned railway bridge in a 'Superman' pose, with her arms and legs in a horizontal position, not having noticed that her harness hadn't been attached.

In harrowing footage shared to the press by witnesses, onlookers - including Rodrigues de Freitas' fiancée - were heard telling the staff members, 'the rope, people, the rope'.

The 21-year-old was pronounced dead at the scene (Facebook)

The camera then panned down to the platform, on which lay the unused safety rope.

Paramedics pronounced the physical education and sports management graduate dead from multiple injuries at the scene.

Following the fatality, six people were transported to Limeira’s Second Police District, after which three men were arrested and charged with homicide with implied malice.

Police believe the incident to have been an accident, but say the actions of Luis Felipe Feliciano Egoroff, 32, Vitor de Freitas Gonçalves, 27, and Maicon Fernandes Cintra, 42, mean they assume responsibility for the risk which caused the victim's death.

Following the incident, Limeira City Hall vowed to sue Brazil's federal government for repeatedly ignoring warnings from locals about the danger of the Ponte do Esqueleto bridge.

The victim hadn't been attached to the main rope (NBC)

The body said it 'had been adopting administrative measures and demanding action from the federal agencies responsible for the area', adding that Rodrigues de Freitas' death 'makes the continuation of this omission unsustainable and unacceptable'.

Nicknamed the 'Skeleton Bridge', the bridge was originally part of Brazil’s Federal Railway Network (RFFSA), but has been abandoned for 30 years.

Over that time, the bridge has claimed a number of lives, having become popular amongst extreme sports fans.

In April 2024, Kelly Stefani de Oliveira Alves, 39, lost her balance while cycling along the bridge with her husband after her foot touched a low wall.

The mother-of-one fell from the bridge and died at the scene.

Several other accidents have occurred on the bridge (G1)

Despite Brazil’s Ministry of Management and Innovation in Public Services (MGI) asking for the bridge to be closed and for danger signs to be erected, activities at the site resumed.

In August 2025, another two women sustained a number of serious injuries after falling from the bridge.

One was declared in critical condition after being rushed to Santa Casa de Limeira hospital, but thankfully survived, while the other suffered multiple fractures throughout her body.

Following Rodrigues de Freitas' fall, witnesses at the scene claimed the suspects had attempted to flee into the woods but were captured after being spotted by a police helicopter. The suspects deny this, however.

Three people have been arrested (NBC)

In his testimony, Egoroff insisted he changed his clothes because his 'shirt was already wet, it was very dirty', adding that no one fled and 'everyone responsible stayed there'.

Local outlet O Globo reports that neither he nor Gonçalves nor Cintra could explain what went wrong during the victim's jump.

"Usually it's Felipe who puts on the rope. In 99 per cent 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."

Police are yet to ascertain whether the incident was the result of negligence.