Dad of Taylor Swift fan, 23, who died at star’s sweltering Rio concert breaks silence

THE dad of the fan who died at a Taylor Swift concert wants organisers punished if they were guilty of negligence.

Student Ana Clara Benevides, 23, went into cardiac arrest in sweltering heat at the Nilton Santos Olympic Stadium in Rio de Janeiro last Friday.

Ana Clara Benevides died during a sweltering Taylor Swift performance in Rio

Ana Clara Benevides died during a sweltering Taylor Swift performance in RioCredit: Instagram

Taylor Swift appeared to be seen gasping for air on stage during her performance

Taylor Swift appeared to be seen gasping for air on stage during her performance

A fan video showed the star seemingly struggling to breathe during the show

A fan video showed the star seemingly struggling to breathe during the showCredit: Twitter/alisontragic
Swift, 33, briefly paused the Eras show so drinks could be handed out to fans chanting “water, water”.

She even threw a bottle to the crowd.

Ana’s father Weiny Machado, 53, from Mato Grosso do Sul, said: “I’ve lost my only daughter — a happy and intelligent girl. I’ve no words.”

He told a newspaper it was “absurd” that Swift had to give fans water.

He added: “Nothing’s going to bring my daughter back. But I hope, if it’s confirmed there was negligence, people are made to pay.”

In separate comments made at the doors of the Rio de Janeiro Forensic Medicine Institute where his daughter’s body was taken, Mr Machado revealed he had had no contact with the show organisers T4F or federal government or city hall representatives.

Insisting he had been informed of his daughter’s death by Daniele Menin, the friend who went with her to Rio, Mr Machado said: “No-one has tried to contact me.

“On Saturday I was still at home in Mato Grosso do Sul, and the girl who went with Ana Clara phoned me to tell me the news.

“She’s been the only one who’s called.”

Ana Clara’s cousin Estela Benevides, who said the Taylor Swift fan had travelled by plane for the first time in her life to attend Friday’s concert, added: “Our family is in shock. It’s incredible.

“She left a lasting impression on the lives of the people she knew.”

The dead woman’s family spoke as regional prosecutors announced an investigation focusing on the organisation of the show by T4F, a shortened version of Brazilian entertainment company Time For Fun which has been described as one of the largest of its kind in the world.

It was ordered to make changes for the second Taylor Swift concert last night, including the provision of new water distribution points, before the US artist postponed the show because of the ongoing heatwave in Rio.

Prosecutors announced a criminal investigation.

A tragic final video shows Ana Clara fanning herself to stay cool in an eight hour wait before she died

A tragic final video shows Ana Clara fanning herself to stay cool in an eight hour wait before she died

Ana Clara went into a fatal cardiac arrest after being one of the 1,000 people who fainted at the Nilton Santos Stadium

Ana Clara went into a fatal cardiac arrest after being one of the 1,000 people who fainted at the Nilton Santos StadiumCredit: Instagram

Taylor Swift postponed her Saturday night concert due to the extreme temperatures in Rio

Taylor Swift postponed her Saturday night concert due to the extreme temperatures in Rio

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