Iranian cyclist Bahman Golbarnezhad dies after a fall in competition

The Iranian cyclist Bahman Golbarnezhad died today as a result of an accident in which he suffered a fall during the test road cycling category C4-C5 Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro 2016, reported Efe sources of the organization of the fair.

Golbarnezhad suffered the accident on Saturday in the penultimate day of the Games, after going off the road and was immediately evacuated to a hospital in Rio de Janeiro where he died in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

The 48 year old athlete crashed when the test was passing through the neighborhood of Pontal, in the west of Rio de Janeiro, and at a time which faced a decline in the first round.

In a statement, the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) announced with "deep sadness and regret" the death of the athlete and explained that after the fall of the Iranian "was treated at the scene and when he was in the process of being taken to hospital athlete he suffered a cardiac arrest. "

IPC President Philip Craven said in the statement that "this news really break your heart and thoughts" and offered "condolences of the entire Paralympic Movement to the family" of the cyclist.

"The Paralympic family is united in sorrow for this terrible tragedy that puts a shadow over what has been a great Paralympic Games, here in Rio," said Craven.

For the president of the Organizing Committee of Rio 2016, Carlos Nuzman, "this is a very sad day for the sport and the Paralympic Movement news. Our hearts and prayers are with the family of Bahman, his teammates and all the people of Iran ".

Meanwhile, Brian Cookson, president of the International Cycling Union (UCI) said: "I am devastated to hear about the death of cyclist Bahman Golbarnezhad Our thoughts are with his family, friends and sports authorities in Iran to whom we offer. our deepest condolences. "

International sports bodies and Brazilian authorities have launched an investigation to determine the causes of the accident, he reported the statement.

Last Wednesday, Golbarnezhad participated in the time trial in the same category test and was fourteenth.

Iran 's disputed in Brazil its second participation in the Paralympics, having been in London 2012.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the Olympic Iranian authorities indicated that later will provide more details of the death of the cyclist.

In competitions cycling route of the 2016 Summer Olympics, held in August, some accidents occurred, the most injurious falls suffered by the Dutch Annemiek van Vleuten and Sergio Henao Colombia.