A tragic incident unfolded during a Taylor Swift concert in Rio de Janeiro, as revealed by a forensics report obtained by The Associated Press. The report confirms that the cause of death for 23-year-old Ana Clara Benevides, a Brazilian fan in attendance, was heat exhaustion. Ana Clara had fainted during Taylor Swift’s performance of “Cruel Summer“ on November 17 and tragically passed away hours later at a local hospital. The concert day was marked by extreme temperatures, with the mercury soaring to around 40 degrees Celsius (105 degrees Fahrenheit) in the city.
Prior to the show, fans had waited for extended periods in queues, and many raised concerns about the organizers’ failure to provide an adequate supply of water for the over 60,000 concertgoers gathered at the Nilton Santos Stadium. Moreover, fans reported that they were not permitted to bring their own water containers into the stadium.
The tragedy prompted the public prosecutor’s office in Rio to launch a criminal investigation, and the Rio police issued a statement, announcing that the event organizing company’s representatives would be summoned to testify following the analysis of the forensics report.
Ana Clara Benevides’ untimely death profoundly affected many in Brazil. She had taken her inaugural flight to travel from the country’s central-western region to fulfill her dream of witnessing her favorite singer, Taylor Swift, perform live.
Taylor Swift herself expressed her deep sorrow over the incident, posting a heartfelt statement on Instagram in which she shared that the tragedy had left her with a “shattered heart.”
