This attractive young law student has tragically died after she was hit by a falling boulder while rock-climbing.
Cecilia Oliveira Geronimo, 22, was killed instantly in the incident that took place in the municipality of Sao Bento do Sapucai in the Brazilian state of Sao Paulo on Tuesday, 2nd October.
The young woman, who hailed from the neighbouring state of Minas Gerais, was rock-climbing with friends at the Pedra da Divisa (Divisa Rock), which straddles the state border.
It was when she was on her way back down the cliff face that a piece of rock came loose and hit her on an unspecified part of her body, killing her at the scene.
Witnesses subsequently said that the falling block of stone had come loose “inexplicably” and had taken everyone by surprise, as reported in local media including news outlet O Vale.
As night was beginning to fall at the time, rescuers from the Civil Defence and the Fire Brigade were only able to retrieve her body the following afternoon, some 20 hours after the incident.
The operation to recover the body reportedly lasted some five hours, and the rescuers had to be assisted by members of the Environmental Research Institute and a team of mountaineers.
Once recovered from the scene, the body was taken to the morgue in the nearby city of Taubate.
Cecilia was reportedly passionate about nature and loved rock-climbing.
The rock on which she lost her life forms part of the Serra da Mantiqueira (Mantiqueira Mountain Range), whose highest peak reaches 1,950 metres (6,398 ft).
The area is popular with rock-climbers, as it boasts cliff faces measuring 400 metres (1,312 ft) in height.
The victim had been studying at the Faculdade de Direito do Sul de Minas Gerais (Faculty of Law of the South of Minas; FDSM), which paid tribute to the young woman on social media.
The institute wrote: “The FDSM deeply regrets the passing of its dear student Cecilia Oliveira Geronimo.
“Our condolences to her family and friends at this very difficult time.”
It was not mentioned if the authorities were investigating the case.
