Three bungee jump instructors in Brazil have been charged with homicide following a fatal accident in which a 21-year-old woman fell to her death after being launched from a bridge without a safety tether. The incident occurred at the 130-foot-high Skeleton Bridge, where Maria Eduarda Rodrigues de Freitas was preparing to jump. Her fiancé witnessed the tragic fall.

According to authorities, the instructors failed to secure the bungee cord to Rodrigues de Freitas prior to the jump. When questioned, the three men reportedly told investigators that they could not recall which of them was responsible for attaching the safety line, citing memory lapses or “blacking out” during the incident.

The case is currently under investigation, with the instructors held in pre-trial detention. Charges of homicide have been filed against all three, marking a serious development in what has been described as a preventable accident.

Officials have not released further details regarding the specific circumstances that led to the failure in safety protocols, nor have they commented on whether the instructors or the company overseeing the operation followed established guidelines. The investigation continues as authorities seek to determine the cause of the lapse and whether negligence or misconduct contributed to the fatal outcome.