Brazilian police detain three after woman dies in 40-metre bungee jump

A 21-year-old woman died in Brazil on Saturday after being launched from a 40-metre bridge without a safety harness during a bungee-jumping activity, prompting police to open an involuntary homicide investigation and detain three instructors.

The victim, identified by local media as Ana Clara Santos, was participating in a rope-jump session on Friday afternoon at the Paranoá Lake bridge in Brasília when the accident occurred. Video footage reviewed by investigators shows her stepping off the platform and falling in free fall after the bungee cord was not secured to her harness. She struck the water below and was pronounced dead at the nearby Hospital de Base.

Brazilian federal police confirmed in a statement on Sunday that three employees of the adventure company responsible for the jump—identified as the instructor, the safety supervisor, and the activity coordinator—had been taken into custody. Authorities are treating the case as involuntary manslaughter and are examining whether the company violated safety protocols by failing to attach the bungee cord to the victim’s harness. Six people connected to the activity’s management have been arrested in total, according to Belgian newspaper *La Libre* .

Grieving relatives told *Adevărul* that Ms Santos had travelled from São Paulo to Brasília specifically for the bungee jump, a gift from her boyfriend. “She was so excited,” said her sister, Camila Santos. “They promised her the safest jump in Brazil.” The family has filed a civil claim against the adventure company and is seeking damages for negligence.

The tragedy has reignited scrutiny of Brazil’s adventure tourism sector, where operators often market extreme sports as safe experiences despite limited regulatory oversight. Brazil’s National Tourism Board did not respond to requests for comment on Sunday. The Paranoá Lake bridge, a popular tourist site, has been temporarily closed to bungee-jumping activities pending the outcome of the investigation.

Psychologists consulted by *Publico* warned that such accidents can traumatise both participants and bystanders. “The psychological impact on witnesses who filmed the fall is likely to be severe,” said Dr. Ricardo Mendes, a trauma specialist at the University of Brasília. “This is not just a legal case; it is a public safety alert.”

Police have appealed for any additional footage or witnesses to come forward as they reconstruct the moments leading to the fatal launch. The investigation is expected to conclude within 30 days, with charges possible under Brazil’s penal code for culpable homicide.