Paramedics failed to save 26-year-old Tales Soares after he fell to the floor at the parade in Sao Paulo

This article is more than 1 year old

This article is more than 1 year old

A model has died after becoming sick and falling on the catwalk at Sao Paulo fashion week in Brazil.

A statement from organisers said Tales Soares took ill on Saturday while in a parade of fashion brand Ocksa. A medical team attended to him on the catwalk and Soares was later taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

The statement did not provide more details.

The newspaper Folha de S Paulo reported that Soares, who was reported to be Brazilian, tripped on his shoelace and fell. According to the paper, people in the crowd initially thought his fall was part of a performance.

A photo in the newspaper showed the model lying face down on the catwalk while paramedics attended to him. The paper reported Soares, who was a vocal advocate for gay rights, was 26 years old.