Alwaght – Iranian para-cyclist lost control on road race descent in Rio and died before reaching hospital on Saturday.
Bahman Golbarnezhad became the first Paralympics athlete to die during the competitions.
A joint investigation involving Rio 2016, the International Paralympic Committee, Rio police, medical authorities and cycling’s world governing body, the UCI, has been opened to establish the full circumstances of what was described as a tragic accident.
The 48-year-old athlete was 35km into the race and on a hillside when lost control and “hit the fence or the wall” as witness accounts are being investigated to determine the exact circumstances surrounding the accident.
The Iranian cyclist from Shiraz received immediate medical attention and initially presented good vital signs, despite sustaining a head injury that caused significant damage to his cycling helmet, a Rio 2016 spokesman said.
But his conditions deteriorated as he was moved to the ambulance and died of his second cardiac arrest on the way to the hospital.
Following Golbarnezhad‘s passing, the Iranian Flag has been lowered to half-mast in the Paralympic Village. The Paralympic flag will also be flown at half-mast in the Paralympic Village and at the Rio Centro venue where Iran will play Bosnia and Herzegovina in the sitting volleyball gold medal match on Sunday. During the closing ceremony of the event, a moment of silence will also be held.
This was Golbarnezhad’s second race at the Rio 2016 Paralympics. He took part in the time trial C4 race on Wednesday and finished 14th.
The Iranian athlete also competed at the London Paralympics in 2012 and 2014 Asian Para Games in Incheon, South Korea.
