Male Model Tales Soares Dies On Catwalk During São Paulo Fashion Week

RIO DE JANEIRO. (THECOUNT) — Tales Soares, a model participating in São Paulo Fashion Week, died after falling ill and collapsing on the catwalk Saturday night.

A statement from organizers said Soares took ill Saturday while in a parade of fashion brand Ocksa.

A medical team rushed to assist the fallen model on the catwalk. He was transported to an area hospital where he was later pronounced dead.

The statement did not provide further details on a cause of death.

Daily Folha de S. Paulo reported that Soares tripped on his shoelace and fell. According to the paper, people in the crowd initially thought his fall was part of a performance, reports WCYB.

A photo in the newspaper showed the model lying face down on the catwalk while paramedics attended to him. The paper reported Soares was 26 years old.

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Geo quick facts: Rio de Janeiro is a huge seaside city in Brazil, famed for its Copacabana and Ipanema beaches, 38m Christ the Redeemer statue atop Mount Corcovado and for Sugarloaf Mountain, a granite peak with cable cars to its summit. The city is also known for its sprawling favelas (shanty towns). Its raucous Carnaval festival, featuring parade floats, flamboyant costumes and samba dancers, is considered the world’s largest – wikipedia.