Maria Eduarda Rodrigues de Freitas, a 21-year-old woman, died after being thrown from the 40-metre (130-foot) Ponte do Esqueleto bridge in Limeira, São Paulo state, Brazil, during a rope-jumping incident on the weekend of June 13 or 14, 2026 [1, 2, 3]. Video footage shows two men in white helmets holding and launching Rodrigues de Freitas off the abandoned bridge without attaching her to any safety rope, despite wearing harnesses connected to ropes themselves [1, 2, 3]. Onlookers can be heard shouting at the instructors to secure the safety rope before she was released [1, 2, 4].

The victim had asked to be launched "airplane style," lifted above the instructors’ shoulders with her arms spread at the time of the jump [2, 3]. A nurse who arrived first on scene briefly saw Rodrigues de Freitas conscious but with a weak pulse and rapid breathing [4]. She was buried the day after the accident in São Paulo state [1, 2].

The abandoned Ponte do Esqueleto is under federal government responsibility but has been neglected. Limeira City Hall announced plans to sue the federal government over management failures, stating, "[The woman's death] makes the continuation of this omission unsustainable and unacceptable" and expressing solidarity with the victim's family [1, 3].

Police arrested three men involved as instructors or operators during the rope-jumping. They face possible homicide charges under Brazilian law for "eventual intent." Police investigator Andrea Levy said the men could not recall whether they forgot or who failed to check the safety attachments but confirmed no ropes were connected to Rodrigues de Freitas when she fell. Levy said, "They do not remember whether they forgot to attach [the ropes], or who was supposed to do it, or who failed to check. But the fact is the ropes were not attached to her." [3]

Local officials indicated the instructors worked for a private company possibly called Entre Cordas, though some reports mention informal groups [1, 2]. Rope jumping is an extreme sport distinct from bungee jumping, using low-stretch climbing ropes to create a pendulum swing rather than a vertical bounce [1, 3].

The bridge stands about 90 miles northwest of São Paulo city and is known locally as the "Skeleton Bridge." Its federal neglect has raised safety concerns repeated by local authorities after the fatal accident [1, 3].

The three arrested men face charges as investigations continue to determine responsibility for the fatal safety lapse [1, 2, 5, 4, 3].