The grieving mother of the Taylor Swift concert attendee who succumbed to extreme heat in Rio de Janeiro has expressed gratitude towards fans for crowdfunding efforts to bring her daughter’s body home.
In an emotional video, Adriana, the mother of Ana Clara Benevides, expressed her appreciation to those who supported the fundraising initiative. This comes after Adriana criticized the concert organizers for their lack of assistance in facilitating her daughter’s return after the unfortunate incident at the Eras Tour show in Rio.
Expressing relief and gratitude, the mother of Benevides, the 23-year-old who tragically passed away after falling ill at Taylor Swift’s concert in Rio de Janeiro, announced that the fundraising goal had been reached.
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In a video translated on X, she thanked the numerous donors who made it possible to fulfill their intended arrangements.
Benevides fell ill at the beginning of the show and later passed away at the hospital, as reported by a friend to the local G1 outlet. The concert organizers, Time For Fun (T4F), faced criticism for allegedly not assisting the family in transporting Benevides’ body back to her home state of Mato Grosso do Sul, according to the New York Post.
Expressing deep emotional distress, Benevides’ mother revealed on Brazilian television that the lack of support from the concert organizers is particularly painful.
Despite her daughter being at the venue since Friday, she conveyed that the individuals responsible for organizing the concert have not provided the necessary assistance for the family to bring Benevides home.
Expressing a plea for assistance, Benevides’ mother conveyed that while she understands such messages might not reach the artists directly, the family hoped for support from them to bring her daughter home, as they were covering all expenses.
While the official cause of Benevides’ death has not been disclosed, it is suspected to be related to heat illness due to the extreme temperatures during the concert. The temperatures in Rio, around 102 degrees Fahrenheit with 70 percent humidity, felt closer to 138 degrees Fahrenheit at the time of the show, as reported by PBS.
Following Benevides’ death, Time For Fun (T4F) faced criticism for not permitting water bottles into the crowded stadium, leading to extreme conditions and the subsequent postponement of Taylor Swift’s Saturday concert.
Benevides’ father, Weiny Machado, called for an investigation into whether the prohibition of water bottles contributed to the tragedy and if there was negligence in providing assistance.
T4F defended itself, claiming that the restriction on water bottles was a requirement from public bodies and clarified that they were not responsible for selling drinks and food, which fell under the stadium administration’s jurisdiction.
In the aftermath of Benevides’ tragic death at Taylor Swift’s concert, the singer from Pennsylvania delivered a poignant performance of her song “Bigger Than The Whole Sky” at her Sunday show, widely interpreted as a tribute to the late fan.
