The tragic death of a Brazilian fan at a Taylor Swift concert in November was attributed to heat exhaustion, according to a forensic report. Ana Clara Benevides, 23, collapsed while attending Swift’s performance in Rio de Janeiro on November 17 during the song “Cruel Summer.” She later died in a local hospital. That day, Rio de Janeiro was experiencing temperatures around 40 degrees Celsius (105 Fahrenheit).
Prior to the event, fans had waited in line for several hours. Over 60,000 people attended the concert at Nilton Santos Stadium, and there were complaints about inadequate water distribution by the organizers. Attendees also reported being prohibited from bringing their own water into the venue.
The Rio Forensic Medical Institute’s report concluded that Benevides suffered a cardiorespiratory arrest due to prolonged exposure to heat. The report also clarified that there were no underlying health issues or substance use contributing to her demise.
According to a forensic expert’s analysis, Benevides experienced acute lung damage and sudden death as a result of the heat. A friend of Benevides, who was also present at the concert, stated in November that they did receive water while queuing to enter the stadium.
T4F, the event organizers, did not immediately respond to the AP for comments. However, CEO Serafim Abreu announced in a video shortly after Benevides’ passing that the company would revise its heat-related event protocols and offer support to her family.
The incident has prompted the Rio public prosecutor’s office to launch a criminal investigation, and Rio police have indicated that they will call event organizers to testify after reviewing the forensic report.
Benevides’ death has deeply impacted the Brazilian community. She had flown for the first time from the central-western part of Brazil to see her favorite singer.
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In an Instagram post following the incident, Taylor Swift expressed her profound sorrow, stating that the news had left her heartbroken.