An 11-year-old girl named Bianca Zanella, a tourist from Curitiba, fell approximately 70 meters from a lookout point at Cânion Fortaleza in Cambará do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul, on July 10, 2025. The accident occurred around 1 p.m. while she was visiting the Parque Nacional da Serra Geral with her family. Bianca, who had Autism Spectrum Disorder (TEA), was located by firefighters after about 10 hours using a drone equipped with a thermal camera. Rescue efforts involved rappelling techniques but were unsuccessful in saving her. The Corpo de Bombeiros confirmed her death, with the necropsy report indicating politraumatism as the cause of death. It remains unclear if she died immediately upon falling. The incident prompted expressions of condolence from Rio Grande do Sul Governor Eduardo Leite and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who extended solidarity to the family.
One of our missing has been found dead. Beautiful 5 YO Silas Chearer left his Kentucky home on his own at 5 AM. He had austism. In prayer for Silas' family. #IanAlert #autismawareness https://t.co/dUSgeZHhQc
Brasileiro morre afogado ao salvar menina de 12 anos em reservatório nos EUA https://t.co/nhaykxwUzW
Investigação sobre morte de menina de 11 anos que caiu de cânion no RS deve ser finalizada em até 30 dias, diz polícia https://t.co/ZusOaHZkGM #g1