Guide-Associate Dies After Falling From Pedra do Macaco in Maricá

Overview

• The fall, which happened on Sunday, June 28, was filmed by a member of the group and left 44-year-old Caio Rocha Aguiar Arrabal dead at the scene after rescuers reached him hours later.
• Rescue teams from Maricá and Niterói and the Corpo de Bombeiros carried out a roughly four-hour operation that used technical rope-climbing techniques and helicopter support because the victim lay in dense vegetation and steep terrain.
• Police at the 82ª DP (Maricá) have opened an inquiry into the circumstances of the accident and are investigating the recorded footage and witness accounts.
• Reports say Arrabal accompanied visiting groups and worked with local guide teams but did not hold a formal guiding license, a fact that has raised questions about oversight and accountability for group-led trips.
• Authorities and experts say Pedra do Macaco’s final approach has large, exposed lajes, no clear signage and precipitous viewpoints, and they warn that the site is suitable only for experienced climbers; this is the second fatal trail accident in Maricá in less than 15 days, increasing local safety scrutiny.