Maria Eduarda Rodrigues de Freitas was 21 years old — a recent graduate in physical education and sports management, and a resident of Jandira, in Greater São Paulo. She worked at a gym in Jandira, which posted a message mourning her death.
Who she was
A sports teacher by training, Maria Eduarda built her life around physical activity. She had qualified as a physical-education professional and worked at a local gym in Jandira, where she was remembered by colleagues after her death.
Friends and followers knew her for an active, outdoor life — workout routines, time in nature, and a passion for football. On her last morning, she had shared photos from the Skeleton Bridge before the jump.
What happened
On the morning of Saturday, June 13, 2026, she went to the Ponte do Esqueleto (the "Skeleton Bridge") in Limeira, in the interior of São Paulo state, to take part in "rope jumping," a pendulum-style jumping activity. She had gone there with her fiancé. Hours before the accident, she had shared photos of the location and her identification bracelets on social media.
The tragedy happened at the moment of the jump. According to the military police, witnesses on site reported that the rope had not been secured to her harness before she was launched off the platform by two men. Right before she was launched, someone can be heard on video shouting "Guys, the rope" after realizing she was not connected. She fell approximately 40 meters into a ravine and was pronounced dead at the scene by medics.
At a glance
- Date
- Saturday, June 13, 2026
- Location
- Ponte do Esqueleto, Limeira, São Paulo
- Activity
- Rope jumping (pendulum jump)
- Fall height
- Approximately 40 meters
Memorial Token
A community-created memorial token dedicated to Maria Eduarda Rodrigues de Freitas.
The legal aftermath
- Immediately after Six people connected to the operating companies were arrested. Two men who had fled the scene were later found in a wooded area with the help of a police helicopter.
- From the videos The men seen in the footage were wearing shirts linked to the companies Entre Cordas and Ih Voei, which had not publicly commented at the time of the first reports.
- Investigation The case was transferred to the 2nd Police District of Limeira, and a criminal investigation was opened for negligence and manslaughter.
Press coverage
- C Vítima de 'rope jump' em Limeira publicou fotos momentos antes de morrer A 21-year-old woman died during a rope jump at the Skeleton Bridge trail in Limeira after being launched from a 40-meter bridge without the safety cord. She had posted photos on social media moments before. cnnbrasil.com.br
- E Jovem morta em salto fez publicação nas redes antes do acidente Coverage of the victim's final social-media posts before the fatal jump and the unfolding police investigation into the operators. estadao.com.br
- G Mulher arremessada de ponte sem corda morre em Limeira A 21-year-old woman died during a rope jump in Limeira after being thrown without safety equipment from a 40-meter-high bridge. gazetadopovo.com.br
- P Prof de sport, passionnée de football : qui était Maria Eduarda, la Brésilienne de 21 ans décédée dans un saut à l'élastique A portrait of the 21-year-old Brazilian woman — a sports teacher and football enthusiast — who died in the rope-jump accident in Limeira. leparisien.fr
- i Witnesses scream as 21-year-old is thrown from bridge without safety gear and plunges to her death A safety lapse led to a fatal rope-jumping incident at Limeira's Skeleton Bridge, with bystanders heard shouting a warning before the jump. ibtimes.co.uk
- M Horror moment woman falls to her death after 'staff forget to attach cord' at bridge swing attraction A 21-year-old woman died after being flung off a Brazilian bridge swing without safety equipment; staff allegedly forgot to connect the rope before releasing her. themirror.com
- W Woman dies after bungee crew in Brazil fail to attach safety rope before throwing her off bridge A 21-year-old woman died in Limeira, Brazil, after a rope-jumping crew failed to connect her to the safety rope before her fatal 40-meter fall from the Ponte do Esqueleto. theweek.in