Tragedy has struck ahead of Shakira’s highly anticipated concert in Brazil. According to reports from Reuters, a crew member has passed away following a fatal injury sustained during the stage setup process at Copacabana Beach.
Shakira is scheduled to perform a free concert in Rio de Janeiro on May 2. The event is expected to be a massive production, following in the footsteps of legendary free shows previously held at the iconic location by superstars like Lady Gaga and Madonna, who drew crowds of approximately 2.5 million and 1.6 million people, respectively.
The Incident and Response
Fire department officials were alerted to the scene when a technician suffered severe leg injuries in an accident involving a lifting mechanism. Despite being rushed to a nearby hospital for emergency treatment, the worker could not be saved.
“Unfortunately, the technician passed away at the hospital,” concert promoter Bonus Track stated. The stage construction had been underway for several weeks in preparation for an expected crowd of over one million fans.
Witnesses described a chaotic scene as people nearby scrambled to understand the situation. The victim reportedly became trapped within a lifting system that was in operation while stage materials were being positioned.
Local resident Antonio Marcos Ferreira dos Santos recounted the harrowing moments, stating, “People said there was a man trapped underneath it. Many rushed to help and tried to pull him out.”
As of now, Shakira’s management team has not yet released an official statement regarding the tragic accident.
Summary
A tragic accident occurred during the stage setup for Shakira’s upcoming free concert at Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro. A crew member sustained fatal injuries after becoming trapped in a lifting mechanism, and despite being rushed to a nearby hospital, he could not be saved.
The concert, scheduled for May 2, is expected to draw over a million fans to the iconic location. While the incident caused chaos among witnesses at the site, Shakira’s management team has not yet issued an official statement regarding the loss.