A 26-year-old male model has died after collapsing on a catwalk in the middle of a show.
Tales Soares stumbled as he turned at the end of the stage after reportedly tripping on a strap from the sandals he was wearing during an event for Sao Paulo Fashion Week in Brazil yesterday.
Hundreds of audience members at the Ocksa show at first assumed the incident was part of the performance but Mr Soares soon began foaming at the mouth and emergency crews came to his aid.
Paramedics attended to him in front of horrified onlookers but were unable to revive him.
He was later taken to hospital and pronounced dead.
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Mr Soares, who also went by Tales Cotta, was signed to Base MGT, an agency based in Sao Paulo which represents scores of actors and models.
In a statement published by news website Terra they dealt with speculation surrounding Mr Soares' death.
A spokesman said: "We emphasize that the model always had exemplary behavior. He was not a newcomer, he has already paraded in other editions of both SPFW and other important fashion events.
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"Tales never presented or complained about health problems. He had a healthy diet (he was a vegetarian), did not use illegal substances and was in full condition to participate in the parade. And we ask for respect at this moment of deep sadness."
The site also reports concerns have been raised about the lack of vegetarian food backstage at the event, meaning Mr Soares would have not eaten for a long time.
But organisers have denied this was the case, saying he was catered for.
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Mr Soares' cause of death will not be known until a post-mortem has been completed.
A statement on the fashion week's Instagram account read: "May God welcome you with open arms! Life is definitely a catwalk, we're just passing through! Very sad!"
Friend and first agent Faelo Ribeiro said Mr Soares died doing what he always loved, parading.
He said: "He has always been very engaged in social causes. He fought for the minorities and taught in a needy community."
