Grieving family attacked after excited daughter, 11, ran ahead at beauty spot and tumbled off 20-story cliff

Daily Mail UK ^ | July 15, 2025 | ADRY TORRES

[Morgana]

A grieving couple have been inundated with hateful criticism after their excited child ran ahead of them on holiday and fell to her death from a huge cliff.

Bianca Zanella and her family were on vacation last Thursday when the 11 year-old ran away from her father and tumbled down Fortaleza Canyon in Cambará do Sul, a city in the southern state of Rio Grande do Sul. She died on impact.

Zanella's parents and her two younger brothers returned to Curitabá – where they reside in the nearby state of Paraná – on Friday and the little girl's body arrived Saturday for the wake and burial services.

Carolina dos Santos, who is representing the family, called on the public to support the grieving parents instead of blaming them for their daughter's death.

Zanella had Autism Spectrum Disorder levels two to three.

'In this moment of tragedy, of profound sadness for this family, Brazilian society must show solidarity and respect the memory of Bianca, who was an autistic girl, who lived and was included,' dos Santos said during a press conference Saturday at the funeral home.

'It is very easy for public opinion to judge a family, a family that wanted to give Bianca a dignified and inclusive life. May Brazilian society understand that people with disabilities have the right to have a dignified life.'

Zanella's parents, whose names have not been released by authorities, have yet to publicly comment on the tragic incident and will not be planning on doing so, the lawyer said.

[Morgana]

“The parents blew it when they chose to take their autistic, excitable child, to visit an unbarricaded 20-story cliff. Binding an 11 year-old hand and foot does not make for a happy holiday; and, no amount of “watching” will stop such a child from darting off, after which it can be too late. The parents should have taken their child to relatively safe places, with much larger margins for error.”

Excellent point on your part! I had not thought of that and I wonder, really wonder if the parents did?

Then again these days I have to wonder about the logical thinking of most parents.

Yes a place with a 20 foot cliff was not the safest place in the world for her. These people were either stupid or sinister.

“Cynics and the police might ponder whether the parents desired, consciously or unconsciously, to get rid of a burdensome child. I’d chalk it up to a lack of foresight and common sense. I bet the police have interviewed people who knew the family, combed their social media, and otherwise looked for indications.”

I have to admit I am suspicious of their actions to a certain degree. Then I wonder if maybe they just needed a vacation and they didn’t explain to her before hand what a cliff was and why not to bolt or run hear it? Say to the girl “sit in the car until we are ready and then we will all walk over together”. That is something my parents said to us when we were very little.