The mother of a 21-year-old woman who died in a rope jumping incident in Brazil after instructors failed to attach her safety equipment has shared her “pain and longing” over her death.
Maria Eduarda Rodrigues de Freitas fell an estimated 40 metres (130ft) from Ponte do Esqueleto, an abandoned bridge in Limeira, about 92 miles north of São Paulo, when instructors allegedly failed to attach her harness.
Footage of the tragedy appears to show de Freitas being carried in the air by three men, after she reportedly asked to be launched “aeroplane style” for the jump.
Rope could be seen on the ground, and unattached, behind the instructors as they proceeded to throw de Freitas from the bridge in the chilling video.
Valdenia Rodrigues shared a photo of her daughter on social media, writing alongside it: “That damn rope took you forever from me.
“My beloved daughter, you left and here there is only pain and longing. I love you forever.”
Brazilian police investigator Andrea Levy told journalists that three men were arrested and could face manslaughter charges over de Freitas’ death.
“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,” Levy said.
The men were detained following a custody hearing, where the judge classified their conduct as gross negligence, according to Brazilian media.
A camera worn by de Freitas during her fall has also not been found by police, with suggestions it was taken from the scene.
The men said de Freitas’ death was an accident, it was reported.
De Freitas was buried on Sunday morning in Jandira, Greater São Paulo, where she lived with her family.
A nurse who tried to help de Freitas after the incident told Brazilian news programme Domingo Espetacular that she had initially survived the fall, but was hard to access in the rural area under the bridge.
Rayza Dias attempted to give her life-saving care, but said she had a weak pulse and was breathing heavily.
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