Nat Bromhead
In tragic news from the Rio Paralympics a cyclist has died after crashing in the C4 Road Race.
48-year-old Iranian Para-cyclist Bahman Golbarnezhad was involved in an accident at around 10:40am on the first section of the Grumari loop, a mountainous stretch of the course. It is believed he crashed heavily and suffered significant head trauma.
He was treated at the scene then taken by ambulance to a nearby hospital. A statement released by the International Paralympic Committee said Golbarnezhad suffered a cardiac arrest and passed away soon after arrival at the hospital.
“The athlete’s family who are in Iran was informed this afternoon and the Iranian team was brought together in the Athlete Village earlier this evening and told of the news.” the IPC statement read.
IPC President Sir Philip Craven said it was truly heart-breaking news.
“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,” he said.
“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.”
UCI President Brian Cookson said he was devastated to hear about the death of Bahman Golbarnezhad.
“Our thoughts are with his family and friends, and the NPC of Iran to whom we offer our most sincere condolences,” he said.
It was Golbarnezhad’s second Paralympics having competed in London in 2012. He rode with a prosthetic left leg and took up cycling in 2002.
