Taylor Swift fan Ana Clara Benevides dies at Eras Tour concert in sweltering stadium after 1,000 people fainted in heat
THE Taylor Swift fan who died at the Rio de Janeiro Eras Tour concert has been named as Ana Clara Benevides.
In a heartbreaking statement on Friday night, the singer confirmed the death of the 23-year-old Brazilian after 1,000 people reportedly fainted in the scorching heat.
The fan’s death was confirmed by her cousin Estela Benevides, who received the news over the phone after doctors failed to revive her.
The 23-year-old died of cardiorespiratory arrest, Folha de Sao Paulo reports.
Benevides was on the railing and ended up fainting at the scene.
Pal Thiago Fernandes, 22, said his friend was revived at the stadium for 40 minutes before having a second arrest on the way to the hospital.
The thermal sensation recorded at Rio’s Nilton Santos Stadium reached 60C and firefighters unofficially recorded 1,000 fainting spells during the event.
Fans reportedly complained on social media about the ban on bringing water bottles into the stadium, considering the intense heat.
Sharing a written note on her Instagram story after the concert ended, Taylor Swift said: “I can’t believe I’m writing these words but it is with a shattered heart that I say we lost a fan earlier tonight before my show.
“I can’t even tell you how devastated I am by this.
“There’s very little information I have other than the fact that she was so incredibly beautiful and far too young.”
The pop icon, 33, performed her first of three shows in Rio de Janeiro on Friday as temperatures soared to 42 degrees Celsius.
She is scheduled to perform again on Saturday and Sunday but warned fans she is “not going to be able to speak about this from stage” because she feels “overwhelmed by grief.”
Her statement continued: “I want to say now I feel this loss deeply and my broken heart goes out to her family and friends.
“This is the last thing I ever thought would happen when we decided to bring this tour to Brazil.”
Taylor had paused Friday’s concert at one point to ensure fans had enough water in the sweltering heat.
During her Evermore set, she urged officials to bring bottles to waving members of the crowd, as chants of “water, water” rang out.
“There’s people that need water right here, maybe 30, 35, 40 feet back,” she said, pointing to a section in the audience.
“So whoever is in charge of giving them that, just make sure that happens. Can I get a signal that you know where they are?”
Temperatures are expected to rise in Rio on Saturday, with highs expected to feel like 109 degrees with the humidity.
It comes not long after Taylor was forced to cancel one of her shows in Argentina due to bad weather.
The hitmaker was joined for the trip by new beau Travis Kelce, 34, who sent fans wild by coming out to support her.
In one video shared by a concertgoer, Taylor waved at her fans from the stage before heading toward Travis who was waiting for her.
The Eras songstress then wrapped her arms around the athlete before planting one on his lips in their first public kiss as the crowd cheered.
Taylor is due to head to São Paulo, Brazil, next weekend for the final stop of her 2023 tour leg.
The U.S. Sun has reached out to the star’s representative for comment.