17/06/2026 22:03 - Internacionales
Interior de una gruta brasileña con vista al vacío desde aproximadamente 30 metros de altura, equipo de rápel cerca del borde, vegetación de mata atlántica, rocas irregulares y terreno inclinado donde ocurrió el accidente
Rosemary Suzart Garcia, aged 59, lost her life on Sunday, June 15, 2026, after falling approximately 30 meters from a cave in the municipality of Maricá, in the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Garcia, a nurse by profession and passionate about outdoor activities, was preparing to practice rappelling—an adventure sport that involves descending vertical surfaces using ropes—when the fatal accident occurred.
According to witness testimony given to the Civil Police (the investigative police force in Brazil), Garcia was walking toward the anchoring point wearing all her safety equipment—helmet, gloves, and harness—when she stepped away from the group to apply insect repellent. As she lifted one leg, her supporting foot slipped on the inclined terrain, causing her to fall into the void.
Giovani Maximino, a member of the group of 15 people who witnessed the fall, told Brazilian media outlet G1: “The guide tried to hold her and almost fell as well. It's a height of approximately 30 meters. She was finishing applying the repellent. It was very fast.”
The instructor told police that he lunged toward the victim and managed to grab onto a root in the terrain to avoid falling himself, but he could not prevent the tragedy.
Firefighters received the emergency alert at 10:44 AM and, upon arriving at the scene, confirmed that Suzart Garcia no longer had vital signs. Her body was transferred to the Instituto Médico Legal (IML) of São Gonçalo—a forensic institute responsible for determining causes of death.
Rosemary lived in Cordovil, a neighborhood in the northern zone of Rio de Janeiro. She worked as a nurse at Hospital Municipal Evandro Freire and, according to her loved ones, was passionate about outdoor activities. She regularly participated in excursions and tours throughout Brazil's diverse landscapes.
Additionally, she rescued cats and found adoptive homes for them, as seen on her Facebook profile. “Rosemary says goodbye as she lived: in contact with nature, leaving a legacy of love for the paths and mountains she traveled,” wrote one of her acquaintances on the social network.
Rosemary Suzart Garcia's death occurred just one day after another tragedy related to extreme sports in Brazil. On Saturday, June 13, 2026, María Eduarda Rodrigues de Freitas, aged 21, died at the Skeleton Bridge in Limeira, state of São Paulo.
According to G1, instructors from the company Entre Cordas Oficial gave the jump signal without having secured the harness to any anchor point during a bungee jumping activity—an extreme sport where participants jump from great heights while connected to an elastic cord. Three instructors were detained for homicide with implicit intent.
The Grutas do Spar are located near Inoã, in Maricá, and originated from an old mining extraction zone deactivated more than five decades ago, where minerals such as feldspar and mica were extracted. Over time, the site became a destination frequented by adventure sports enthusiasts.
The location features a cave approximately 40 meters high enabled for rappelling, a natural lake, and vegetation of the Atlantic Forest (Mata Atlântica)—a tropical forest biome that originally spanned Brazil's Atlantic coast and is one of the most biodiverse ecosystems on Earth, though now largely diminished due to deforestation.
The Maricá City Hall (Prefeitura) issued a statement clarifying that the property is privately owned and located within the boundaries of the Municipal Wildlife Refuge of Maricá (REVIS)—a protected conservation area.
“Because it is private property, the City Hall is not responsible for authorizing, inspecting, or prohibiting rappelling activities carried out at the location,” the municipality stated.
The Civil Police conducted forensic analysis at the scene and maintain an open investigation into the circumstances of the accident. Media outlet G1 reported that they attempted to contact the company administering the space without receiving a response.
| Victim: | Rosemary Suzart Garcia (59 years old) |
| Date: | June 15, 2026 |
| Location: | Grutas do Spar, Maricá, Rio de Janeiro |
| Height of Fall: | Approximately 30 meters |
| Profession: | Nurse at Hospital Municipal Evandro Freire |
| Activity: | Preparing for rappelling |
| Cause: | Slipped while applying insect repellent |
| Emergency Alert: | 10:44 AM |
Alfredo S. Quiroga
