The final moments of a skydiving instructor who fell to his death in Brazil were chillingly captured on camera.
Footage shows José de Alencar Lima Junior, 49, getting ready to attempt a daring 'speed fly' off a cliff known as Pedra Bonita in Sao Conrado on Sunday (3 November) shortly before tragedy struck, according to NewsX.
This extreme sport is quite similar to paragliding, but also incorporates elements of parachuting and free riding, as demonstrated by Tom Cruise in 2023's Mission: Impossible Dead Reckoning.
The term speed flying describes 'foot-launched flying with a speed wing', according to Cross Country Magazine.
In the clip taken just moments before his fatal jump, José is seen checking his equipment on top of the cliff as a crowd of onlookers gathered around him excitedly.
José de Alencar Lima Junior's last moments were caught on video (Instagram/@eduardotchao)
The army veteran - who boasted two decades of skydiving experience - then launched into a run while dragging his parachute behind him, before heading off the side of the rock face.
Sadly, José's stunt was met with gasps of alarm rather than amazement as bystanders realised that something had gone drastically wrong.
A number of people were seen rushing towards the cliff edge to frantically search the skyline for a sign of José's parachute.
But tragically, the skydiving instructor had plunged off the cliff edge after his parachute failed to open efficiently.
He tumbled 820ft into a forested area below, with authorities later confirming he'd crashed into rocks at the bottom of the cliff.
Rescuers had to comb through the area for several hours before they were able to locate José's body, which was reportedly lifeless by the time he was found.
According to witnesses, Lima appeared to tripped before falling, leading police to believe that his equipment may have been faulty.
The 49-year-old was found dead by rescuers in Brazil hours after the failed jump (Facebook/Alencar Pqd)
His family have been left devastated by his sudden death, with relatives telling local media that the former paratrooper had only just returned to visit his loved ones, since he lived in Germany.
José's sister-in-law, who asked not to be named, said: "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.
"I don't know if he had already jumped from Pedra Bonita, but he was very experienced."
The relative said that José was also supposed to be travelling to Dubai in the next few days to carry out a series of jumps.
"That was a dream for him, to jump from various places in the world," she added, according to Globo.
According to the Clube Sao Conrado de Voo Livre (CSCLV), paragliding or similar activities at Pedra Bonita are completed off a ramp and access to the site is controlled by CSCLV, who claim that Lima accessed the site via a trail and jumped from an inappropriate location.
The CSCLV said: "The pilot did not use the ramp to take off. The spot he chose for takeoff is bad and even prohibited.
“The CSCLV is not responsible for the incident. With that clarification, may the pilot rest in peace.”
The police investigation into Lima's death continues.
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