Law Professor, 61, Dies in Fall on Rio's Tijuca Mirim Trail

Overview

• Paulo Fernando Bandeira da Silva, a 61-year-old law professor and lawyer, died Saturday during a hike in the Floresta da Tijuca.
• He sent photos from the peak to his daughter minutes before the accident and was trekking with five friends, according to relatives.
• Environmental monitors alerted rescue teams, the scene was preserved for forensic work, and the body was hoisted by helicopter to the medical examiner’s office.
• The 19th Police Precinct is investigating the dynamics of the fall, with family noting he used medications that can affect balance as they await necropsy results.
• Park officials temporarily closed the Tijuca Mirim trail and stressed that the high-difficulty route lacks guardrails, rises to about 920 meters, and includes 40–60 meter drop-offs with new risk signage in place.