Three workers of a bungee company have appeared in court after a model plunged to her death because her safety cord was not attached. The incident occurred in Limeira, São Paulo, Brazil, when Maria Eduarda Rodrigues de Freitas, a 21-year-old teacher and gym worker, was thrown off the Skeleton bridge in a Superman pose, falling 130 feet.
Court Appearance and Claims
The men, identified as Maicon Fernandes Cintra, 42, Luis Felipe Feliciano Egoroff, 32, and Vitor de Freitas Gonçalves, 27, were arrested on charges of homicide with eventual intent. They were perp walked to court on Monday, June 15, where they claimed a "blackout" during the setup and said they "can't remember" who was supposed to attach the safety cord. The trio were remanded in custody after appearing before a judge.
Luis Felipe, who said he earned just £26.50 per jump, told police that team members did not have set responsibilities during jumps and that equipment checks were carried out "jointly." When asked who was responsible for final safety checks for Maria's jump, he replied, "I can't remember." Maicon reportedly gave the same answer.
Lawyer's Statement
Their lawyer, Rafael Gomes dos Santos, claimed: "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."
The Incident
Videos show the victim being carried horizontally by her arms and legs in a Superman pose at the top of the abandoned railway bridge. After she is thrown off, instructors look down as the camera pans to show the safety line still lying on the platform. Witnesses can be heard shouting, "the rope people, the rope."
Family's Grief
Maria's devastated mother, Valdenia, expressed her grief after her daughter's funeral. She posted online: "That damned rope took you away from me forever. My beloved daughter, you are gone and all that remains here is pain and longing. I will love you forever."
Social Media Posts
In a series of Instagram stories published moments before her death, Maria shared photos of the representatives of the private company that organized the jump. She had uploaded several posts before the trip, excited about the jump and sharing pictures of the venue. "Who was the crazy person who let me jump off a bridge?" she wrote beside a photograph of an Entre Cordas banner.
The jump appeared to involve bungee operator Entre Cordas and Ih Voei, a linked instructor brand. Local media reported staff at the scene wore shirts bearing both brands. Entre Cordas' Instagram page, which advertised "a jump to the extraordinary," was reportedly taken down after the death.
