Two sky divers die in Olympic ring aerial performance in Brazil

Two Brazilian sky divers were tragically killed after participating in an aerial performance ahead of the Olympic Games which start in around a month. Authorities in Sao Paulo confirmed that the accident occurred on Wednesday 29 June when a group of 28 people attempted to form the famous five rings associated with the event.

According to the police, the incident took place in Boituva, 117 kilometres from Sao Paulo, which is a popular location for parachuting and sky diving performances. It happened towards the end of the acrobatic test-run where national champion and holder of several South American records, Gustavo Correa Garcez, 39, and instructor, Guilherme Bastos Padilha, 47, fell to their death.

Bastos Padilha died at the scene due to traumatic brain injury and Correa Garcez was rushed to a hospital in Boituva, but died minutes after arriving.

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Police investigation

As part of the investigation to determine the cause of the accident, police are doing checks on the equipment that the two professionals used for the test performance.

The Games organising committee stated following the tragedy that the aerial show did not form part of the official preparations for the ceremony.