Iranian cyclist dies after crash

Bahman Golbarnezhad IRI competing in the Men's Road Race C4-5 during the Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, September 17, 2016. [Photo/VCG]

RIO DE JANEIRO - Iranian cyclist Sarafraz Bahman Golbarnezhad has died after crashing in the C4-5 event at the Paralympics.

"The IPC confirm that Golbarnezhad, 48, was involved in a crash at around 1040 on the first section of the Grumari loop, a mountainous stretch of the course," the International Paralympic Committee said.

"The athlete received treatment at the scene and was in the process of being taken to the athlete hospital when he suffered a cardiac arrest.

"The ambulance diverted to the nearby Unimed Rio Hospital in Barra da Tijuca where he passed away soon after arrival."

An investigation into the accident has been launched.

It was Golbarnezhad's second race at the Games. He finished 14th in the C4 time trial on Wednesday.

The cyclist took up the sport in 2002 and also participated at the London 2012 Paralympics.

"He was an exemplary Paralympic sportsman who, with love and energy, tried his best to promote the name of Iran and to make all of us proud and at the end he gave his life for this," said Golbarnezhad's national Paralympic Committee.

"All members of the Iranian cultural and sports camp here express condolences to his family and the Iranian nation. The name of Bahman Golbarnezhad will be inscribed in the proud history of Iranian Paralympics."