Iranian Paralympic cyclist dies after crash
48-year-old Bahman Golbarnezhad died following a crash in the C4/C5 road race at the Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro
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RIO DE JANEIRO (AFP) – Iranian Paralympian Bahman Golbarnezhad died Saturday in Rio de Janerio following a crash.
The 48-year-old was riding in the C4/C5 Paralympic road race when he fell on a mountainous section of the Grumari circuit.
According to a statement by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), Golbarnezhad “received treatment at the scene and was in the process of being taken to the athlete hospital when he suffered a cardiac arrest. The ambulance then diverted to the nearby Unimed Rio Hospital in Barra where he passed away soon after arrival.”
An investigation was opened to determine the circumstances of the accident.
Initial press reports indicate that Golbarnezhad crashed after hitting a rock, and suffered a head injury in the fall.
His family, who lives in Iran, was informed of his death in the afternoon, and all members of the Iranian delegation attending the Paralympic were brought together in the athletes’ village and informed of the news.
“This is truly heart-breaking news and the thoughts and condolences of the whole Paralympic Movement are with Bahman’s family, friends, and teammates as well as the whole of the National Paralympic Committee (NPC) of Iran,” said IPC president Philip Craven.
“The Paralympic Family is united in grief at this horrendous tragedy which casts a shadow over what have been great Paralympic Games here in Rio.”