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Rio tragedy: cyclist dies following road race crash

Golbarnezhad was being rushed to hospital when he suffered the cardiac arrest.

Golbarnezhad was being rushed to hospital when he suffered the cardiac arrest. Photo: Getty

The international Paralympic community has been rocked by the death of a cyclist following a crash in the men’s road race.

Iranian Paralympian Bahman Golbarnezhad reportedly passed away from a heart attack after the accident.

The 48-year-old was riding down a mountainous stretch of the course in the men’s C4/C5 event when he crashed on Saturday morning in Rio de Janeiro.

Golbarnezhad was treated at the scene and was being rushed to hospital when he suffered the cardiac arrest and died shortly after.

International Paralympic Committee president Sir Philip Craven said the news was heart-breaking and the condolences of the whole Paralympic movement are with Golbarnezhad’s family, friends, and teammates.

“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,” he said.

Having also competed at the London 2012 Paralympics, Golbarnezhad was competing in his second race at the Rio Games after finishing 14th in the time trial C4 race on Wednesday.

The Iranian flag has been lowered to half-mast in the Paralympic village and a moment of silence will be held during the closing ceremony on Sunday (Monday AEST).

An investigation into the circumstances of the accident has been launched.

With AAP

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