A family vacation ended in tragedy after a curious little girl suffered a 229-foot fall into Brazil‘s biggest canyon and died Thursday.
Bianca Bernardon Zanella, 11, took off running and fell from the edge of Fortaleza Canyon in Cambará do Sul, the Rio Grande do Sul Fire Department said.
Zanella’s father told Cambará do Sul police chief Fernanda Aranha they were about to return to the base of the canyon before his wife escorted their two sons, ages 5 and 9, to a snack bar.
He stood behind with Zanella, who had autism. They were about to sit on a bench located in an area of the canyon that is considered the highest point.
Zanella at one point ran while her father was not looking and was chased before falling off the cliff around 1pm local time.
The youngster’s body was located in the canyon around 5:30 pm with the use of a drone that was deployed by the fire department.
A search mission via helicopter was postponed due to fog and bad weather at the canyon.
A team of firefighters rappelled into the mountain in a mission and found Bianca dead at around 11pm.
Bianca Bernardon Zanella died after falling off a cliff at Fortaleza Canyon in Cambará do Sul, Brazil on Thursday. The 11-year-old, who was diagnosed with autism, reportedly ran from a bench where her parents were about to sit and was chased by her father, who was unable to prevent her fall
Authorities shut down access to Fortaleza Canyon at Serra Geral National Park on Friday as part of an investigation related to the deadly fall of 11-year-old Bianca Bernardon Zanella on Thursday
President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva was shocked by Zanella’s death.
‘The death of little Bianca Zanella, 11, moved me deeply,’ Lula wrote on his X account Friday morning.
‘She fell from a cliff in the Serra Geral National Park, in Rio Grande do Sul, and despite the brave efforts of security forces, it was not possible to rescue her alive.
‘I express my deepest sympathy to his parents and family, and I pray that God brings them comfort in this time of grief.’
The body of 11-year-old Bianca Bernardon Zanella was removed from the canyon at 11 pm, about 10 hours after falling
A search and rescue teams spent at least six hours searching for Bianca Bernardon Zanella before they found her body at 11 pm local time
Serra Geral National Park was closed to visitors on Friday as part of a Rio Grande do Sul Civil Police investigation.
Fortaleza Canyon, which is 4.7 miles long and 6,561 feet wide, is 3,795 above sea level and 14 miles from the city center.
The site features several guarded trails, including the Mirante Trail, which offers a complete view of the canyon.
