Three bungee jump instructors in Brazil have been charged with manslaughter and will remain in custody until the end of proceedings after the death of 21-year-old Maria Eduarda Rodrigues de Freitas. The fatal jump took place at Skeleton Bridge, a 12-meter-high bridge in Brazil, where the safety rope that should have been attached to her body was left on the bridge.
During questioning, one of the instructors said, “everything was erased from my head.” The three also told investigators they could not remember which of them was supposed to fasten the safety cable. One suspect said he and another instructor were responsible for attaching the rope, but claimed he did not remember the moments that followed. He added that he walked behind the other two and held Freitas by the legs, and said the trio usually took turns attaching the rope. “All three of us work together, I can’t understand at what point I didn’t see the rope,” he said.
Freitas had also been given a GoPro camera to record the jump from her point of view, but one instructor told investigators they did not know where it is. A nurse who treated her said she was still alive when she hit the ground, but died shortly afterward from severe injuries.
Local reports said some of the instructors tried to flee the bridge before being found by a military helicopter in a nearby wooded area. Because they were considered flight risks, their bail requests were denied. Moments before the incident, Freitas had posted on social media about her excitement and fear, writing, “Who is the crazy person who approved me to come and jump off a bridge???” The Military Police of São Paulo said in a formal statement that it views the case very seriously and, based on technological findings and eyewitness testimony, Freitas had followed all safety instructions and was continuously accompanied by the company’s staff, placing full responsibility for the disaster on the operator.
