The cyclist Bahman Golbarnezhad has died following a crash in the men’s C4/C5 road race at the Rio Paralympics, Iran’s national Paralympic committee has announced. The International Paralympic Committee said Bahman Golbarnezhad, 48, suffered cardiac arrest after the incident on a "mountainous stretch" of circuit. Mr Golbarnezhad received emergency treatment on the course and suffered cardiac arrest while he was being transported to a Rio hospital, where he died. Bahman Golbarnezhad (left, chasing South Africa's Dane Wilson) in action earlier in Saturday's race

IPC president Sir Philip Craven said: "This is truly heartbreaking news and the thoughts and condolences of the whole Paralympic movement are with Bahman's family, friends, and team-mates as well as the whole of the National Paralympic Committee of Iran. The IPC said it believes this is the first death in a Paralympics and officials said the cause of the crash, which remains unclear, was being investigated. According to the IPC, Golbarnezhad was involved in a crash at around 10:35 local time on the first section of the Grumari loop, a mountainous stretch of the course, on a curved descent. He received treatment at the scene and was in the process of being taken to the athlete hospital when he suffered cardiac arrest. The cause of the crash was not clear, and officials said it was being investigated. “The Paralympic family is united in grief at this horrendous tragedy, which casts a shadow over what have been great Paralympic Games.”

The Iranian flag has been lowered to half-mast in the athletes' village and Mr Golbarnezhad's family, who are in Iran, were informed this afternoon, according to the IPC. The Iranian flag was lowered to half-staff in the Paralympic Village, and at the venue where Iran faces Bosnia and Herzegovina in a men’s sitting volleyball final on Sunday. The Iranian flag has been lowered to half-mast in the Paralympic Village and a period of silence will be observed during Sunday's closing ceremony. “This is very sad news for sport and for the Paralympic movement.” Carlos Nuzman, head of the Rio Olympic organizing committee, said in a statement. “Our hearts and prayers are with Bahman's family, his team-mates and all the people of Iran.”

Saturday's race was won by Daniel Abraham of Holland, with Brazil's Lauro Chaman second and Andrea Tarlao of Italy third. Golbarnezhad was 14th in the time-trial on Wednesday and also competed at the London 2012 Paralympics. He lost his left leg in a land mine explosion and took up the sport in 2002, competing in events for athletes with lower limb impairments or amputations. Bahman Golbarnezhad was competing at his second Paralympics

An Iranian Para-cyclist has died after a crash during the men's C4-5 road race at the Rio Paralympics. On Wednesday, he finished 14th in a time trial.
Iranian Para-cyclist Bahman Golbarnezhad dies after being involved in a crash during the men's C4-5 road race.