A hiker died Sunday after falling approximately 500 feet from a rock vantage point in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The incident occurred shortly after the hiker, identified as 44-year-old Caio Rocha Aguiar Arrabal, posed for a photograph at the summit of Pedra do Macaco.
A video recorded at the scene captured the moments leading up to and during the fall. In the footage, another hiker can be heard warning Arrabal to be cautious as he attempted to descend. Screams were heard after his fall.
Matheus Moura of the Maricá Civil Defence described the subsequent rescue operation as "complex," requiring four hours to reach the victim. Rescuers navigated through dense woods and utilized ropes to access the remote site. Arrabal succumbed to his injuries.
The Pedra do Macaco trail is a roughly half-mile ascent that takes about 40 minutes to climb. Visitors frequently ascend the exposed rock to capture views of the Maricá lagoons. However, the location has been the site of previous accidents.
According to Moura, Arrabal, who was reportedly guiding a team on the trail despite lacking a license, may have attempted to descend from an incorrect side of the rock before the fatal plunge.