26-year-old Brazilian male model dies after collapsing on catwalk during Sao Paulo Fashion Week
A Brazilian model shockingly died after he fell sick and then collapsed on the runway during Sao Paulo's Fashion Week on Saturday.
According to the organizers of the event, 26-year-old Tales Soares, who also went by the name Tales Cotta, fell ill during the show of fashion brand Ocksain Brazil on April 27. The model was immediately attended to by paramedics in front of the horrified onlookers.
The Sun reported that he was rushed to the hospital after the paramedics got to him but was pronounced dead later. Guests at the event initially thought that the dramatic fall had been a part of the model's act before the paramedics were seen rushing on stage to tend to Soares.
After the model's tragic death, footage started to emerge on social media of Soares collapsing just after he made a quick turn on the runway.
In the disturbing video, Soares can be seen walking down the catwalk in front of hundreds of people before he turns around after reaching the top of the runway. As he completed his turn, the model seemed to stagger and then fell face first onto the runway.
According to Brazilian newspaper Folha Press, Soares had allegedly tripped on his shoelace before he fell. It was then reported that the model started foaming at the mouth after he fell down.
One photo in the newspaper showed the model lying face down on the runway with paramedics attending to him. A statement that was released by the organizers of Sao Paulo Fashion Week read: "SPFW has just received the news of the death of model Tales Soares, who suddenly took ill during the Ocksa show."
The organizers posted a picture of the model along with a message on Instagram that read: "Que Deus o receba de braços abertos! A vida é definitivamente uma passarela, é só estamos de passagem! Muito triste!" The English translation says: "May God welcome you with open arms! Life is definitely a catwalk, we're just passing through! Very sad!"
Fashion brand Ocksa also posted a message on its Instagram page saying that the team was "shocked" by Soares' death. The model had been signed to modeling agency Base MGT. The statement from Ocksa did not give any more insight into the incident and is still to confirm the model's cause of death.