Ana Clara Benevides, a 23-year-old student and fan of American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift, died of heat exhaustion at a concert of the Eras Tour at Estádio Olímpico Nilton Santos, Rio de Janeiro, on November 17, 2023. She was one of the thousands of attendees who suffered from dehydration and fainting due to the venue’s ban on personal water bottles and the extreme heat wave that hit Brazil on that day.
A forensics report has confirmed that heat exhaustion was the cause of death of a 23-year-old woman who attended a Taylor Swift concert in Rio de Janeiro last month. Ana Clara Benevides Machado collapsed during the show on November 17 and was taken to a hospital, where she died of cardiac arrest.
Extreme heatwave in Brazil
Brazil was experiencing an unprecedented heatwave at the time of the concert, with temperatures reaching 42°C (107.6°F) and humidity making it feel like 59.3°C (138.7°F) in some parts of Rio de Janeiro. The heatwave triggered health alerts and warnings of the danger to life, especially for those exposed to the sun for long periods.
Witnesses said that heat exhaustion made many fans faint or vomit inside the Nilton Santos Stadium, where the concert took place. The fans also complained that the organizers did not allow them to bring their water bottles into the venue and provided insufficient and expensive water.
Taylor Swift’s reaction and actions
Taylor Swift, who was performing as part of her Eras tour, expressed her grief and devastation over the death of her fan on her Instagram account. A deep loss and a shattered heart were what she felt, she said. She also said that she never thought this would happen when she decided to take the tour to Brazil.
Citing the safety and well-being of her fans, fellow performers, and crew as her priority, the pop star postponed her second concert in Rio, which was scheduled for the next day. She also urged the staff at the stadium to give water to the fans during the concert and threw a water bottle into the crowd at one point.
Authorities’ response and investigation
The authorities in Rio de Janeiro launched an investigation into the incident and demanded changes from the concert organizers, Time4Fun Entertainment. The mayor of Rio, Eduardo Paes, said that what happened was unacceptable and asked for more water distribution points and emergency services on standby. The company had to provide free and easily accessible drinking water to the fans and allow them to bring their water bottles to the venues, as the justice minister of Brazil, Flávio Dino, ordered and said.
The forensics report, which The Associated Press obtained on Wednesday, confirmed that Benevides died of heat exhaustion and not of any pre-existing condition or drug use. The report also said that she had no signs of physical trauma or violence.