Iranian cyclist Bahman Golbarnezhad has become the first Paralympic athlete to die in competition, after a horrific crash in the men’s C4/C5 road race in Rio on Saturday.

A joint investigation involving Rio 2016, the International Paralympic Committee, Rio police, medical authorities and cycling's world governing body, the UCI, has been opened to establish the full circumstances of what was described as a tragic accident.

The 48-year-old from Shiraz lost control on a descent 35km into the race, at 10.35am local time, the head of Iran’s national Paralympic committee (NPC) said.

Masoud Ashrafi, the head of the NPC, said Golbarnezhad "lost control and he hit the fence or wall". Witness statements were being taken in an attempt to ascertain whether any other rider was involved and the exact circumstances of the accident.

The crash happened at a right-hand bend on Avenida Estado da Guanabara on the hilly Grumari circuit, a spokesman for the Rio 2016 organising committee said.

Golbarnezhad received immediate medical attention and initially presented good vital signs, despite having sustained a head injury and caused significant damage to his cycling helmet, the spokesman added. However, his condition deteriorated after he was transferred to an ambulance.

Golbarnezhad died following a second cardiac arrest – the first happened as he was transferred into the ambulance – on arrival at a hospital in Barra at 11.50am local time on Saturday.