Taylor Swift Fan in Rio Dies Due to Heat Exhaustion, According to a Report

A Brazilian fan who attended Taylor Swift’s concert in November died due to heat exhaustion, as indicated by a forensic report obtained by The Associated Press on Wednesday.

Ana Clara Benevides, aged 23, fainted during Swift’s performance of “Cruel Summer” at the Nov. 17 concert in Rio de Janeiro and later succumbed to her condition at a local hospital. The temperature in Rio that day had soared to approximately 40 degrees Celsius (105 Fahrenheit).

Attendees of the concert, which drew over 60,000 people to the Nilton Santos Stadium, had reportedly queued for hours. They criticized the organizers for not providing sufficient water and for prohibiting them from bringing their own water into the venue.

According to the Rio Forensic Medical Institute’s report, Benevides experienced a cardiorespiratory arrest triggered by heat exposure. The report clarified that she had no preexisting health issues or substance abuse problems that could have caused her death.

The forensic expert who examined her body noted a “serious compromise of her lungs and sudden death” resulting from the heat conditions.

Despite claims from some attendees, including one of Benevides’ friends, that water was distributed while they were waiting to enter the stadium, many criticized the event organizers for inadequate water supply.

T4F, the organizing company, asserted in a statement that it adhered to best practices, complied with all regulatory demands, and distributed thousands of water bottles to fans. The company also refuted claims that personal water bottles were not allowed at the concert. T4F stated that Benevides received immediate medical attention and was transported to the hospital in an intensive-care ambulance.

T4F mentioned that this was the first incident of such a tragic nature due to extreme heat in their 40 years of operation.

The public prosecutor’s office in Rio has initiated a criminal investigation into the incident. Rio police stated that after examining the forensic report, they would summon representatives of T4F for testimony.

Benevides’ death has deeply impacted Brazil, as she had flown for the first time from the central-west region of the country to see her favorite singer. Swift expressed her heartbreak over the incident in an Instagram post.

Benevides’ father, José Weiny Machado, told G1 that he had always believed the cause of death was heat exposure. The family’s lawyer, João Paulo Sales Delmondes, stated that the forensic report confirmed the event’s organizational failures. He added that the family would await the conclusion of the investigations to determine the next steps in seeking legal redress for the incident.