AN Iranian cyclist died after crashing in a road race at the Rio de Janeiro Paralympics on Saturday.

    He was Bahman Golbarnezhad, aged 48, the International Paralympics Committee (IPC) said.

    It said he received emergency treatment on the course and was transported to a Rio hospital where officials said he died.

    “This is truly heart-breaking news, and the thoughts and condolences of the whole Paralympic Movement are with Bahman’s family, friends, and teammates, as well as the whole of the National Paralympic Committee of Iran,” IPC President Philip Craven said in a statement.

    The IPC said it believes this is the first death in a Paralympics.

    The IPC said Golbarnezhad crashed about 10:40 a.m. local time on a mountainous stretch of the road cycling course. The IPC said he suffered cardiac arrest on the way to the hospital.

    The cause of the crash was not clear, and officials said it was being investigated.

    “The Paralympic family is united in grief at this horrendous tragedy, which casts a shadow over what have been great Paralympic Games,” Craven added.

    The Iranian flag was lowered to half-staff in the Paralympic Village, and at the venue where Iran faced Bosnia and Herzegovina in a men’s sitting volleyball final yesterday.

    A moment of silence will also be held at the closing ceremony in Maracana Stadium.

    “This is very sad news for sport and for the Paralympic movement.” Carlos Nuzman, head of the Rio Olympic organizing committee, said in a statement.

    A Paralympic biography said Golbarnezhad was born in Shiraz, Iran. He also competed in the London Paralympics but didn’t medal. He was competing in the C4-5 races for athletes with lower limb impairments or amputations. (SD-Agencies)Bahman Golbarnezhad of Iran competes during the men’s road race in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Saturday.

    SD-Agencies