Terrifying video footage has captured the moment a skydiving instructor ran off the edge of a cliff and plunged to his death.

Jose de Alencar Lima Junior died on Sunday morning while attempting a speed flight – an air sport similar to paragliding – at Pedra Bonita in Sao Conrado, Brazil, according to newsX news agency.

Footage shows the 49-year-old army veteran running over the edge of the cliff – with his parachute barely open.

A crowd of onlookers can be heard gasping in horror as Lima disappeared over the edge, falling into a densely wooded area below.

Lima, who served as a paratrooper in the Brazilian Army’s Parachute Infantry Brigade, fell from about 820 feet and landed on some rocks below, according to authorities.

Rescuers scoured the area for four hours before locating Lima’s lifeless body in a hard-to-reach area.

Witnesses told authorities that Lima appeared to stumble into a hole before his fatal plunge.

The cause of the fall is currently being investigated by police, who believe his equipment may have been faulty.

The experienced skydiving instructor lives in Germany but was visiting family in Brazil at the time, according to his sister-in-law, who asked not to be named.

“We have no idea what could have happened. But he was a professional skydiver for 20 years. He had experience,” she said, noting that she had no idea if she had jumped from Pedra Bonita before.

“What happened was an accident,” she said.

Paragliding and similar activities at Pedra Bonita are from an official ramp and access to the site is controlled by the Clube Sao Conrado de Voo Livre (CSCLV), which has accredited instructors to guide the aerial tour.

According to CSCLV, Lima accessed Pedra Bonita from a path – not a ramp – and jumped from an inappropriate location.

“The pilot did not use the ramp to take off. The place he chose for take off is bad and even forbidden,” CSCLV said.

They added, “CSCLV is not responsible for the incident. With that said, may the pilot rest in peace.”

The investigation into the incident is ongoing.