A bungee jump instructor charged in the death of a Brazilian student allegedly removed a GoPro camera from her body moments after she plummeted 130 feet to her death without a safety rope, according to an eyewitness who watched the tragic scene unfold.
Camera Vanishes After Fatal Plunge
Rafael Goulard was next in line to jump when he witnessed one of the employees remove the camera from the victim’s body immediately after the fatal fall. The witness told Brazilian television he saw the instructor take the GoPro handle from around the neck of Rodrigues de Freitas as she lay on the ground below the jump site. Goulard stated he could not determine whether the employee acted out of concern for the equipment, an attempt to conceal evidence, or worry about the camera’s financial value.
The victim had paid approximately 35 dollars for the unlicensed rope jump and an additional 30 dollars to carry the small action camera to capture a 360-degree video of her experience. Video footage clearly shows the camera in her hands as she prepared for the jump, but the device remains missing despite extensive searches of the area by Brazilian authorities. Police have identified the missing GoPro as a critical piece of evidence in their ongoing investigation.
Chaos and Escape Attempts Follow Death
Goulard described the instructors as appearing to be in a catatonic state following the incident, though he questioned whether they truly failed to comprehend their actions or were simply concerned with hiding evidence and fleeing the scene. The witness observed other employees frantically collecting equipment and rushing items to a nearby vehicle. Some workers even changed their clothes in the aftermath of the death.
Three instructors filmed in the video throwing de Freitas over the ledge have been arrested and charged in connection with her death. Two of the three suspects attempted to escape and required tracking by military helicopter before police apprehended them. Authorities briefly detained three additional employees but later released them without filing charges. The investigation continues as officials work to determine which instructor allegedly took the camera and what role the missing footage might play in establishing criminal liability.
What This Means
The case highlights the dangers of unlicensed extreme sports operations and raises serious questions about evidence tampering in the immediate aftermath of a fatal accident. The missing camera footage could potentially reveal whether safety protocols were followed or if negligence directly caused the student’s death. Brazilian authorities continue to investigate all aspects of the incident as the suspects face potential homicide charges in connection with the tragedy at the illegal jump site.