According to investigators, the victim, Maria Eduarda Rodrigues de Freitas, believed she was safely attached before stepping off the platform. Video footage and witness statements allegedly show bystanders realizing something was terribly wrong only moments after the jump began.

Several witnesses recalled a scene of confusion turning into panic as people shouted warnings and attempted to alert instructors. Authorities say the safety line that should have been attached to the student was not connected when she was sent from the approximately 40-meter (130-foot) bridge.

Emergency responders rushed to the scene, and rescuers fought to save the young woman after the fall. However, despite their efforts, she later died from her injuries.

The tragedy has prompted a criminal investigation into the operators responsible for the activity. Prosecutors are examining whether established safety procedures were ignored and whether the fatal incident could have been prevented through basic verification checks.

What continues to haunt many who witnessed the event is the reported cry heard just seconds before the fall:

“The rope! The rope!”

For those present, it was a desperate warning that came far too late.