14/06/2026 21:15 - Internacionales
Vista del Puente del Esqueleto en Limeira, Brasil, con estructura metálica y río abajo, ambiente de deporte extremo
What should have been an exhilarating adventure turned into a devastating tragedy on Saturday in Limeira, São Paulo state, Brazil. Maria Eduarda Rodrigues de Freitas, a 21-year-old physical education teacher at a gym in the city of Jandira, lost her life during a rope jumping practice at the iconic Skeleton Bridge.
Known to friends and family as "Duda", the young woman was launched from approximately 40 meters high without her safety harnesses being properly secured by the instructors. The impact caused fatal polytraumatic injuries, according to emergency medical teams who arrived at the scene.
According to witness testimonies and videos captured at the moment, instructors from the company Entre Cordas lifted Maria Eduarda into a "superman" position—face down with arms extended—and threw her into the void. Immediately after, frantic cries of "Guys, the rope!" were heard as witnesses realized the safety harnesses had not been connected.
Nayra Freitas, a witness who was accompanying her boyfriend for the same activity, told CNN Brazil that the experience cost 290 Brazilian reals (approximately 50 US dollars) and included a video recording provided by the company. "It was irresponsibility by the team. They didn't check the rope. It wasn't just an accident. It was a basic failure," she stated firmly.
Rope jumping uses a more elastic rope that allows participants to bounce gently at the end of the jump. Bungee jumping uses a less elastic cord, creating a swinging motion rather than a bounce. Dan Osman, considered the inventor of rope jumping, died while practicing it in 1998 at age 35. Both are extreme sports that require rigorous safety protocols.
The Military Police of Brazil arrested six individuals connected to the company Entre Cordas. Two of the instructors attempted to flee the scene but were located with the help of a helicopter in the surrounding forest area.
The company's Instagram account, Entre Cordas Oficial, which had over 80,000 followers and was promoted with the tagline "You dream. We make it reality," was deleted shortly after the tragedy. The gym where Maria Eduarda worked issued a statement expressing profound sorrow for the loss.
The mayor of Limeira, Murilo Félix, announced that the municipality will file a formal complaint against the federal government for regulatory negligence regarding the Skeleton Bridge. According to local authorities, since early 2025, efforts had been made to demand stricter safety measures and maintenance for the viaduct—a popular location for extreme sports activities—but adequate controls were never implemented.
Brazilian courts have already summoned the instructors and activity organizers for testimony, while the investigation aims to determine criminal liability for what has been characterized as fatal negligence.
Hours before the accident, Maria Eduarda posted on her Instagram stories a photo of the Skeleton Bridge with a caption that now resonates with heartbreaking irony: "Who was the crazy person who let me jump off a bridge?". Her profile, which showcased her daily life and passion for physical activity and nature, was closed after the news broke.
Limeira is a municipality in the interior of São Paulo state, approximately 150 kilometers from the capital city. The Skeleton Bridge (Ponte do Esqueleto) is a metal viaduct that has become a popular—though unregulated—location for extreme sports enthusiasts. Its name comes from its skeletal metal structure that spans a river valley with dense vegetation below.
Alfredo S. Quiroga
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