Taylor Swift has postponed her concert in Rio de Janeiro after a fan tragically died from falling ill at the sweltering venue. The decision to postpone the show was made due to the extreme temperatures in Rio. Swift took to Instagram to express her concern for the safety and well-being of her fans, fellow performers, and crew. The fan, Ana Clara Benevides, became unwell during Friday’s show at the Nilton Santos stadium and later passed away in the hospital. The cause of her death is currently unknown and will be investigated by Rio’s state health service.
On Friday, Rio experienced record-breaking heat with a heat index of 59.3 degrees Celsius. The following day, the heat index peaked at 59.7 degrees Celsius. Despite the scorching conditions, around 60,000 fans gathered for Swift’s first concert at the open-air stadium. Swift was also scheduled to perform in Rio on Sunday and in Sao Paulo from November 24 to 26. However, Saturday’s show has been postponed to Monday.
During Friday’s concert, several fans fell ill, prompting Swift to pause her performance and request water for them. In response to Benevides’ death, the Justice Minister announced that water bottles would be allowed at concerts and companies organizing shows with high heat exposure must provide free drinking water in easily accessible “hydration islands.”
As news of the concert postponement spread, fans waiting outside the stadium in the sweltering heat were left disappointed. Many young girls burst into tears upon hearing the news. Heat exhaustion, a less severe condition, can cause symptoms such as dizziness, headaches, shaking, and thirst. However, heatstroke, which is a medical emergency, occurs when the body’s core temperature exceeds 105 degrees Fahrenheit and can lead to long-term organ damage and death.
