A nurse who responded to a tragic bungee jumping accident in Brazil has revealed that a 21-year-old university student was still alive when rescuers reached her after she fell nearly 130 feet from a bridge during an unauthorised jump.
The victim, identified as Maria Eduarda Rodrigues de Freitas, died after reportedly being pushed from an abandoned bridge near São Paulo without a safety cord attached during the jump. The incident, which was captured on video, has sparked widespread outrage and renewed scrutiny of adventure tourism safety standards.
Nurse recalls desperate rescue attempt
Speaking to Brazilian television network Domingo Espetacular, off-duty nurse Rayza Dias said she rushed down a steep and muddy slope to reach the student after witnessing the fall.
Dias said she found the young woman alive and attempted to comfort her while rescue efforts were underway.
“I even talked to her,” Dias reportedly said during the interview, recalling the emotional moments after reaching the victim.
The nurse also described the difficult conditions faced by rescuers, stating that she injured her hands while navigating the challenging terrain near the bridge, locally known as “Skeleton Bridge.”
Operators arrested after tragedy
Authorities have arrested three bungee jump operators on homicide-related charges as part of the ongoing investigation.
According to reports, two of the suspects allegedly fled the scene after the incident but were later located with the assistance of a military helicopter.
Three other workers associated with the operation were initially detained for questioning but were later released without charges.
Investigation focuses on safety failures
Investigators are examining whether mandatory safety procedures were ignored and how the fatal error occurred.
Preliminary findings suggest the jump was conducted at an unauthorised adventure tourism site, raising concerns about oversight and compliance with safety regulations.
The case has prompted widespread debate in Brazil about safety standards at recreational adventure activities and the need for stricter enforcement to prevent similar tragedies.