Disturbing new details emerge after woman, 21, dies in bungee jump after staff allegedly forgot to attach safety cord

A 21-year-old woman has died after staff at a Brazilian bridge jump site allegedly failed to attach a safety rope to her harness before throwing her off a 40-metre bridge in front of horrified onlookers.

Maria Eduarda Rodrigues de Freitas, from Jandira, was killed at the popular "Skeleton Bridge" rope jumping destination in Limeira, São Paulo, on Saturday.

She had posted excitedly about the upcoming jump just hours before her death.

Sickening footage, which has since gone viral, shows two workers carrying de Freitas in a Superman pose before launching her from the bridge.

Within seconds, voices in the background can be heard screaming: "The rope, people, the rope!"

She suffered multiple fractures and was pronounced dead at the scene by firefighters and paramedics.

Three instructors, Luis Felipe Feliciano Egoroff, 32, Vitor de Freitas Gonçalves, 27, and Maicon Fernandes Cintra, 42, now face charges of homicide with implied malice.

They are being held in preventive detention following a custody hearing on Sunday.

The bungee cord had not been attached (X)

What happened at Skeleton Bridge?

Unlike bungee jumping, which uses an elastic cord and causes the participant to bounce, rope jumping uses a climbing-style rope that stops the fall in a controlled way, swinging the jumper back and forth like a pendulum.

According to Brazilian news site G1, when questioned by police, the three instructors appeared disoriented and were unable to explain why the rope had not been connected to de Freitas.

They could not recall whose responsibility it was to attach it, nor why a final safety check had not been carried out.

The bridge is a popular tourist location. (Google Maps)

New details emerge from court

Egoroff told the court on Sunday that he removed his clothing because it was wet from the conditions at the scene, not in an attempt to flee.

"My shirt was already wet. It was very dirty. I went to the car and put on a clean one," he said, adding: "We're here. Nobody ran."

Cintra similarly denied attempting to flee and said he could not account for the safety failure. "Usually it's [Egoroff] who puts on the rope," he told the court. "In 99 per cent of cases … and I assist with the operation. I participate in the check, I call the person, I check the helmet. But in her case, I don't remember."

Officers told a different story, stating that while one officer stepped away to help with rescue logistics, the individuals moved toward a wooded area before being tracked down with the assistance of other patrol cars and an aircraft.

The young girl tragically fell to her death on Saturday morning (June 13). (Instagram)

Judge cites 'Gross Negligence' as three men detained

Judge Paulo Henrique Stahlberg Natal of the Criminal Court of Limeira ordered the preventive detention of all three men, citing five aggravating factors including gross negligence in a high-risk commercial activity, the deliberate omission of essential safety equipment, and an attempt to obstruct the investigation. The judge also warned that releasing the men could lead to "the repetition of equally dangerous conduct."

São Paulo police chief Andréa Dantas Levy confirmed the bridge had previously been the site of several tragedies, including the death of a cyclist who fell while taking a selfie, as well as suicides and prior failed jumps, but stressed that the circumstances of de Freitas' death were unprecedented.

She has been named as Maria Eduarda Rodrigues de Freitas (Instagram)

The group behind the jump had been charging 180 Brazilian real (around $50) per person and had five further dates advertised for the coming months.

Future events at the same bridge were still being promoted for July 11 at the time of reporting.

De Freitas, who held a degree in physical education and sports management, regularly posted about outdoor activities and nature on her social media.

In one of her final posts, taken just minutes before the jump, she shared a photo of the company banner alongside the caption: "Who was the crazy person who let me jump off a bridge?"

The Criminal Court of Limeira have been approached for comment.