TEHRAN, Sep. 18 (MNA) � President Rouhani has expressed his deepest condolences and regret over the death of Iranian Para cyclist Bahman Golbarnezhad following an accident in Saturday�s road race at the�Rio 2016 Paralympic Games.

�The tragic news of the passing away of our beloved cyclist Bahman Golbarnezhad in an accident during the Rio Paralympic Games has weighed down our hearts with deepest sorrow,� President Hassan Rouhani said in a Tweet published on his official account on Saturday.

He further prayed�to God that�his�departed�soul�may rest in Heaven.

The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) confirmed on Saturday the death of the Iranian Para cyclist Bahman Golbarnezhad�following an accident in a road race at the�Rio 2016 Paralympic Games.

�Golbarnezhad, 48, was involved in a crash at around 10:40 am on the first section of the Grumari loop, a mountainous stretch of the course. The athlete received treatment at the scene and was in the process of being taken to the athlete hospital when he suffered a cardiac arrest. The ambulance then diverted to the nearby Unimed Rio Hospital in Barra where he passed away soon after arrival,� the IPC said in a statement.

�This is truly heart-breaking news and the thoughts and condolences of the whole Paralympic Movement are with Bahman�s family, friends, and teammates as well as the whole of the National Paralympic Committee (NPC) of Iran,"�Sir Philip Craven, IPC President, said.

Carlos Nuzman, President of�Rio 2016, also reacted to the news, "this is very sad news for sport and for the Paralympic movement. Our hearts and prayers are with Bahman�s family, his teammates and all the people of Iran.�

According to IPC, an investigation into the circumstances of the accident has been launched.

Golbarnezhad, who was a�veteran of the�Iran-Iraq�war,�had also participated at the�London 2012 Paralympic Games�and took up the sport in 2002.

By Mehr News Agency