In brief
A 21‑year‑old woman died after a rope‑jumping instructor left a safety rope un‑attached on the abandoned Skeleton Bridge in São Paulo state. Footage showed three men failing to secure the cord, leading to a 40‑m (130‑ft) fall that proved fatal. Police are reviewing the incident for potential homicide with intent, and three men have been arrested. The tragedy has ignited calls for better safety oversight of abandoned bridges and extreme‑sport operators.
A 21‑year‑old woman died after a rope‑jumping instructor left a safety rope un‑attached on the abandoned Skeleton Bridge in São Paulo state.
The incident went viral when a video showed three men holding the woman’s arms and feet, but the instructor failed to secure the rope before letting her go.
She fell 40 m (130 ft) and emergency services pronounced her dead on scene.
Police are investigating whether the men are culpable of homicide with intent; all three have been arrested.
The Skeleton Bridge has sat abandoned for years and belongs to the federal government, which said it would aid investigations. The city of Limeira has announced a lawsuit against the federal agency for poor maintenance of the bridge.
Rope‑jumping uses low‑stretch climbing ropes that convert the fall into a horizontal swing, while bungee jumping uses a rubber cord that creates a vertical bounce. The tragedy highlights the need for strict safety measures in extreme sports.
