Tragic video footage shows a skydiving instructor running off the edge of a cliff, resulting in a fatal fall.
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Jose de Alencar Lima Junior sadly lost his life while trying a speed fly (an air sport similar to paragliding) at Pedra Bonita in São Conrado, Brazil, on Sunday morning.
The footage captures the 49-year-old Army veteran leaping from the cliff’s edge. His parachute barely deploys as he descends.
A gasp of horror rippled through the crowd as Lima plunged over the edge, disappearing into the thick forest below.
According to authorities per The New York Times, Lima fell from a height of approximately 820 feet, landing on a rocky surface below. Rescuers searched the area for four hours before finally discovering Lima’s body in a challenging-to-access location.
Authorities Suspect Faulty Equipment is to Blame for the Skydiver’s Death
Eyewitnesses told authorities that Lima seemed to stumble over a hole before his tragic fall. Police are currently investigating the incident, suspecting that faulty equipment may have contributed to the accident.
The seasoned skydiving instructor, a former paratrooper in the Brazilian Army’s Parachute Infantry Brigade, resided in Germany. However, he was visiting family in Brazil, according to his sister-in-law, who asked to remain anonymous.
“We have no idea what could have happened. But he was a professional skydiver for 20 years. He was experienced,” she explained. She didn’t know whether Lima had jumped from Pedra Bonita in the past.
“What happened was an accident,” she added.
Paragliding flights and similar activities at Pedra Bonita are conducted from an official ramp, with access regulated by the Clube São Conrado de Voo Livre (CSCLV). This organization employs accredited instructors who guide aerial tours.
The CSCLV said that Lima accessed Pedra Bonita via a trail instead of the ramp and jumped from an unsafe spot.
“The pilot did not use the ramp to take off. The spot he chose for takeoff is bad and even prohibited,” the CSCLV insisted. “The CSCLV is not responsible for the incident. With that clarification, may the pilot rest in peace,” they added.