A worker involved in preparations for an upcoming concert by Shakira has died following an accident at the event site in Brazil, organisers have confirmed.
The incident occurred over the weekend, just days before the singer is scheduled to headline the Todo Mundo no Rio concert on May 2 at Copacabana Beach.
In a statement shared on the event’s official social media pages on Sunday, organisers said the accident “tragically claimed the life of a professional” working on assembling structures for the show.
“First responders provided initial care at the scene, and the Fire Department was immediately called to transport the patient. Unfortunately, the professional passed away at the hospital,” the statement read.
Organisers added that support was being extended to the victim’s family, colleagues and the company responsible for the construction works.
According to the Rio de Janeiro state fire brigade, the male worker sustained severe crushing injuries to his lower limbs while operating within a lifting system. He was reportedly freed by fellow workers before emergency teams arrived.
Firefighters from the local maritime rescue unit administered first aid before transferring the victim to Miguel Couto Municipal Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.
Witnesses at the scene said the accident involved a structure that collapsed during setup. One eyewitness, Antonio Marcos Ferreira dos Santos, said the worker was trapped underneath debris as colleagues rushed to rescue him.
The concert, expected to draw large crowds, will see Shakira headline a free outdoor performance in Rio de Janeiro. Organisers have not indicated whether the incident will affect the scheduled event.
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