A 59-year-old woman met a tragic death in Brazil after falling approximately 30 meters during a hiking trip in a mountainous area of Maricá. Rosemary Suzart Garcia was taking part in an organized hiking route at Grutas do Spar on Sunday when she briefly separated from the main group and headed down a short trail leading to a scenic overlook.
According to reports, the 59-year-old had stopped to apply insect repellent. As she lifted her leg to spray it, she lost her balance on the steep and treacherous terrain, slipped, and plunged into the void from a great height. The circumstances of the accident have sent shockwaves through the local community and among her fellow hikers.
Brazil: Eyewitness account of the fatal fall shocks those who were there
Eyewitness Giovani Maximino stated that the hiking guide rushed toward Garcia and attempted to grab her hand, but nearly fell himself in the process. He ultimately managed to hold on by grabbing a tree root at the edge of the trail. Maximino described how everything happened in a matter of seconds, noting that Garcia had almost finished applying the insect repellent when she lost her footing. According to the witness, the 59-year-old, a resident of Rio de Janeiro, was wearing all the required safety gear, including gloves, a helmet, and other protective equipment.
Firefighting crews rushed to the scene and recovered her body from the ravine. Maximino also revealed that he managed to locate Garcia’s children hours later, at 2 a.m., and inform them of the tragedy. Authorities are now investigating the exact cause of the accident.
