Taylor Swift fan died of heat exhaustion after Rio de Janeiro gig, authorities confirm
The death of a Brazilian woman who died after passing out during a Taylor Swift gig was caused by heat exhaustion, authorities have said.
Ana Clara Benevides, 23, fell ill as Swift performed Cruel Summer, the second song of the night at the gig in Rio de Janeiro in November. She died in hospital just hours later.
Temperatures in the city that day had reached about 40C (105F) and footage of the concert showed Swift interrupting the performance to ask for fans to be given water. It was the first of three gigs in Rio as part of The Eras Tour, with the star postponing the second due to the extreme heat.
Now, a medical report has confirmed Ms Benevides suffered heat exhaustion that led to cardiovascular and respiratory issues, citing “alveolar haemorrhage and polyvisceral congestion caused by diffuse exposure to heat” as the official cause of death.
Toxicology tests did not indicate alcohol or drugs in her blood.
The report by Rio’s Forensic Medical Institute said Ms Benevides suffered “serious compromise of her lungs” due to the heat at the Nilton Santos Stadium, which was holding more than 60,000 people.
One of Ms Benevides’ friends, who also attended the concert, told local media outlets in November that they had been given water while waiting to enter the stadium.
Organizers T4F said in a statement that the company “followed the best practices”, complied with “every demand from authorities” and “distributed thousands of bottles of water” to fans.
The company said Ms Benevides “was promptly cared for by members of a rescue team and sent (to the hospital) in an intensive-care” ambulance.
“In our 40 years in the business, this company had never registered a tragic episode” like Ms Benevides’ death due to extreme heat, T4F said.
The office of Rio’s public prosecutor has opened a criminal investigation. Police said in a statement on Wednesday that after the forensics report is analysed “representatives of the company organising the event will be called to testify”.
In a statement posted on Instagram following Ms Benevides’ death, Swift said she had been left with a “shattered heart”.