Jose de Alencar Lima Junior, a 49-year-old skydiving instructor and former Brazilian army paratrooper, died in a tragic accident while attempting a speed-flying jump in Sao Conrado, Brazil. The incident, which was captured on video and has since gone viral on social media, shows Lima losing his balance shortly after taking off from a cliff edge in Pedra Bonita.
Moments after his parachute deployed, Lima fell roughly 820 feet, landing on rocks below. In the video, a woman can be heard saying, “Guys, I am worried,” as the tragic event unfolds.
Witnesses reported that Lima seemed to trip on a hole before his takeoff, which likely contributed to his fall. Local police have opened an investigation into the incident, with preliminary suspicions suggesting potential equipment malfunction at the time of the accident.
Man dies after jumping from a prohibited place in Pedra Bonita, in São Conrado! The equipment used is also not authorized – speed fly!! The victim was 49 years old and the body had to be rescued by helicopter!! Eduardo bye pic.twitter.com/NGKyOWyyGO
— Climate Coach (@climatecoachofx) November 4, 2024
The Clube Sao Conrado de Voo Livre (CSCLV), which manages access to paragliding and speed-flying sites in the area, clarified that Lima did not take off from the designated ramp, instead using an off-limits cliff location.
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In an official statement, the CSCLV emphasized that it does not bear responsibility for the incident, adding, “The pilot did not use the ramp to take off. The spot he chose for takeoff is bad and even prohibited. With that clarification, may the pilot rest in peace.”
Lima, an experienced skydiver with over 20 years in the sport, lived in Germany and was visiting family in Brazil. His sister-in-law expressed disbelief, saying, “We have no idea what could have happened. But he was a professional skydiver for 20 years. He was experienced. What happened was an accident.”
Recent Tragedy in Brazil’s Skydiving Community
This incident follows another fatal accident last month in Boituva, Brazil, where 40-year-old Chilean skydiver Carolina Munoz Kennedy died after both her main and reserve parachutes failed to deploy correctly, causing her to plummet to the ground.
