Featured Image Credit: @eduardotchao/Instagram
Topics: News
Callum Jones
Chilling footage captured the moment a skydiving instructor jumped off a cliff before falling to his death.
An eerie video shows Jose de Alencar Lima Junior attempting a speed fly at Pedra Bonita in Sao Conrado, Brazil, on Sunday (November 3).
News agency newsX state the popular air activity is fairy similar to paragliding, with the sport popular across large parts of Brazil.
A crowd of onlookers watched as the army veteran ran off the cliff, with tragedy striking shortly afterwards as the parachute failed to open efficiently.
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The Brazilian crowd could be heard gasping as Jose took the plunge, in what was utter horror because of 49-year-old disappearing off the edge of the cliff.
The paraglider vanished into a forested area below, with authorities confirming he fell around 820 feet and landed on some rocks.
Officials searched the area for many hours after the incident, with the search proving a difficult one due to Jose plunging into a restricted area.
Eventually, rescuers did find Jose's body, with police and local authorities launching an investigation into this tragic death.
Jose's sister-in-law, who asked not to be named, said: "We have no idea what could have happened. But he was a professional skydiver for 20 years. He was experienced. What happened was an accident."
Witnesses at the scene claim Jose appeared to trip before falling, with police believing the man's equipment may have been faulty.
Jose's sister-in-law said he was an experienced instructor, so he's family are shocked at the incident. She said he was in Brazil visiting family, but lived in Germany.
In an interview with GLOBO, she said: " It was a shock to the family because so far we don't understand what happened. He had been working with it for many years and was experienced. We believe it was, unfortunately, an accident."
"He always came to Rio in the summer because he loved the heat, he missed the weather here a lot. I don't know if he had already jumped from Pedra Bonita, but he was very experienced, 20 years working with it."
The sister-in-law went on to state Jose was an avid traveler, and had even planned to pay Dubai a visit for a jump.
"That was a dream for him, to jump from various places in the world," she added.
A police investigation into the incident remains ongoing.
If you have experienced a bereavement and would like to speak with someone in confidence, contact Cruse Bereavement Care via their national helpline on 0808 808 1677