An extreme sports activity ended fatally in the interior of the state of São Paulo last weekend. A 21-year-old woman died on Saturday (13) in the city of Limeira, after free-falling from a structure approximately 40 meters high — the equivalent of a 13-story building. The incident occurred during pendulum jumping, an extreme sport that requires complex anchoring, but the victim was launched without the restraint equipment being connected to his body. Military Police agents who responded to the incident took preliminary statements, and an eyewitness reported to the officers that the team responsible for organizing the adventure committed a primary error by forgetting to attach the main cable before the jump.
The dynamics of the sporting activity require a double check of carabiners and seat belts, a protocol that was apparently ignored at the top of the structure. Unlike bungee jumping, which uses elastic bands to cushion the vertical fall, pendulum jumping uses static ropes to create a wide swinging movement, requiring a precise calculation of distance and resistance of materials. The total lack of connection between the participant’s belt and the braking system resulted in a direct impact against the ground, without any chance of cushioning or activation of secondary emergency systems.
Video records show the team’s despair right after the free fall
Recordings made by people who followed the event circulate widely on digital platforms and document the exact moments that preceded the disaster. In the images captured by spectators’ cell phones, it is possible to see the instructors preparing the participant and leading the young woman to the edge of the launch platform. Immediately after the body is projected into the void, the atmosphere of expectation gives way to absolute panic among those present. Seconds after the jump, the video’s audio captures distressing screams of warning, with workers’ voices exclaiming phrases about the late absence of restraint equipment.
Through a thorough analysis of this audiovisual material, authorities were able to visually identify the professionals involved in the extreme sport operation. The workers who appear handling the equipment wore uniforms that clearly printed the logos of two specific companies: Entre Cordas and Ih Voei, both operating in the adventure tourism and outdoor activities segment. Until the moment this report was consolidated, the legal representatives and administrators of the two brands had not issued any official statement or note of clarification regarding the operational circumstances that led to the mechanical and human failure.
Escape attempt in the region of Ponte do Esqueleto mobilizes Águia helicopter
The geographical setting of the fatal accident was the region of the well-known Ponte do Esqueleto trail, an old deactivated railway structure that crosses the Piracicaba River and frequently attracts adventure sports enthusiasts from various parts of the state. Soon after the seriousness of the incident became clear, the tense atmosphere resulted in some organizers taking evasive action. The military corporation confirmed that two individuals who were part of the support team tried to escape the scene, diving into the dense vegetation around the base of the bridge to avoid the initial police approach.
To locate the suspects who left the scene of the accident, security forces needed to mount a large tactical siege. The search operation had essential aerial support from the Military Police Águia helicopter, which carried out low flights and swept the dense forest area. The aircraft’s privileged view allowed it to guide the vehicles on the ground, culminating in the interception and capture of the two men who were trying to hide in the river’s riparian forest.
Arrests and the work of rescue teams at the scene of the tragedy
The police operation launched at the base of the bridge culminated in several people involved taking formal clarifications to the police authority. In total, six people linked to the organization and execution of the activity were detained by the authorities and taken to the police station on duty. In parallel with the security action and isolation of the area for the criminal investigation work, the medical aid teams were called as a matter of utmost urgency by those who frequented the area.
Specialized vehicles from the Fire Department and advanced support ambulances from the Mobile Emergency Care Service quickly arrived at the base of the metal structure. Despite the agility in moving the rescue units, the severity of the multiple traumas suffered by the 40-meter fall made any resuscitation maneuver impossible. Health professionals were only able to certify the victim’s death while still at the scene, then calling the funeral service and the Legal Medical Institute to remove the body.
The victim’s companion required medical attention while an investigation is underway
The psychological impact of the situation severely affected those close to us who were following the adventure in the interior of São Paulo. The young woman’s fiancé was present at the exact moment of the launch and witnessed the entire dynamic of the free fall without protection. Deeply shaken by the loss, he suffered a sudden illness at the base of the bridge, requiring immediate assistance from rescue teams. First responders performed initial care and transferred him to an emergency care unit in the region for clinical stabilization and psychological support.
The case is now under rigorous investigation by the competent authorities, who seek to understand the chain of errors and the civil and criminal liability of the operators. The investigative process involves several fronts of action by public security forces:
- The incident was formally registered and transferred to the 2nd Police District of Limeira, which will conduct investigations and interviews.
- The equipment seized at the scene, including ropes, carabiners and belts, will undergo specialized technical expertise at the Criminalistics Institute.
- The testimonies of the six detainees will be compared with the images recorded by spectators to determine who was directly responsible for the launch.
- The city hall must be notified to inform about the existence of operating permits and authorizations for the commercial exploitation of the abandoned structure.
The police investigation launched will be responsible for classifying the infractions committed, assessing the degree of negligence, recklessness or incompetence of the instructors. The area of the old railway remains at the center of discussions about the need for government supervision in high-altitude sports, while the Civil Police awaits official responses to the expert reports that will form the evidentiary basis of the judicial process in the coming months.
