Brazil: A tragic accident claimed the life of 49-year-old skydiving instructor after he attempted a speed fly (a high-speed form of paragliding) off a cliff in Sao Conrado. Jose de Alencar Lima Junior, an army veteran and experienced skydiver, lost his balance as he ran off the cliff’s edge, leading to a fatal fall of nearly 820 feet onto rocks below.

The incident, captured on video and widely circulated on social media, shows Lima launching off the edge before tripping.Witnesses reported that Lima appeared to stumble over a hole, which may have contributed to his fall.

A former paratrooper in the Brazilian Army’s Parachute Infantry Brigade, Lima had been living in Germany and was visiting his family in Brazil at the time of the accident. The investigation into the circumstances around his death is ongoing. There is some speculation about possible equipment failure.

According to Clube Sao Conrado de Voo Livre (CSCLV), the organisation overseeing the area, Lima took off from an unauthorised spot rather than using the designated ramp.

“The pilot did not use the ramp to take off. The spot he chose is unsafe and prohibited. CSCLV is not responsible for the incident. With that, may he rest in peace,”  the CSCLV clarified in a statement.