The news conference has now finished ending a sad day for the Rio 2016 Paralympics. Good night. 

A question is asked on why the IPC took so long to inform the media. 

Craig Spence: "The reason why it took a long time because we needed to communicate with the family first. It's not fair on the family to find out through a statement or media release. It's not fair on the family to find out in this way. 

"Also, other Iranian Athletes were competing at the time. 

"But this is a very sad incident and we hope a death like this will never happen again. 

"We will make sure this never happens again after we learn the findings of this report.

"This is a very sad day and the IPC again offers its condolences to the people of Iran and the family of Bahman Golbarnezhad at this time. Thank you." 

Sir Philip Craven, president of the IPC, was asked if potential cuts to the Paralympics budget affected today's incident: "There were no cuts that affected this. The ambulance that attended, attended within two minutes. It had all the latest equipment on it and there was a doctor and a nurse present. Everything that was done was in order to save Bahman’s life.”

Secretary of the Iranian Paralympic Committee Masoud Ashrafi: "Bahman was one of the most hard working and active athletes we've had. 

"He has been cycling for 12 years and he's our best cyclist. He's married. He has a wife and one son. 

"He was the kind of man who was a family man. He loved his family. 

"We were in contact with his family two hours ago. We didn't want to transfer the news in this way. 

"But after the media were aware of the situation we thought it was best to come from us at this time."

IPC president Sir Philip Craven: "I've just had it confirmed by Craig Spence (director of communications) that this is the first athlete death at a Paralympic Games. 

"We will look into the report of this incident and decide what we need to do to prevent this from happening in the future." 

Craig Spence, the International ParalympicCommittee's director of communications, informs the press that the flag of the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Paralympic flag will be at half mast in the Paralympic village.

He continues to say that there will be a one minute silence at the closing ceremony tomorrow. 

Secretary of the Iranian Paralympic Committee Masoud Ashrafi: "We are disheartened and heavy with the news. We had a meeting [with IPC officials]. They explained what happened and we presented them with questions about what happened. After that they tried to help us manage the situation the best we could. 

"We want to bring the body of Bahman to Iran tomorrow. Secondly, I'd like to have a good report from the IPC of details of what took place. At the moment we are trying to manage best to the of our abilities for the Iranians still here."

International Paralympic Committee president Sir Philip Craven: "This an absolutely tragic day for the Paralympic movement and the Rio 2016 Games. 

"It's changed the way I feel today. I can say to all the people of the Islamic Republic of Iran and particularly the family of Bahman Golbarnezhad, the International Paralympic Committee offers its deepest condolences

"When this touches the heart of one of us it touches all of us."

International Paralympic Committee director of communications Craig Spence: "This was our worst nightmare. He was a two-time Paralympian and this was his second race at Rio 2016. He had competed on Wednesday in the C4 time trial.

"The crash happened at 10:35 BST today. It's a tragic day for the IPC. The family was informed earlier in the afternoon. The Iranian team were informed later at the village."

Barney Storey MBE
Three-time Paralympic gold medallist on BBC Radio 5 live

Like the whole cycling family, we’re all devastated. You never expect to see or hear of a rider having such a tragic accident in a race. You obviously hope no one has an accident, but to have this unfold in the last few hours is awful and it touches everyone.

You only have to look on Twitter to see how many people are devastated to hear the news. I’m sure there will be a tribute at some point and it’s a very, very sad way to end the cycling at the Games.     

Rachel: Terrible news from Paralympics about Golbarnezhad. Thoughts are with all.

Earlier, we were sad to report the death of Iranian cyclist Bahman Golbarnezhad after a crash in the men's C4-5 road race today. 

Tributes like this have followed. 

The Iranian Paralympic Committee said: "He was an exemplary Paralympic sportsman who, with love and energy, tried his best to promote the name of Iran and to make all of us proud and at the end he gave his life for this. The name of Bahman Golbarnezhad will be inscribed in the proud history of Iranian Paralympics."

We'll bring you updates from the news conference shortly. 

Marlou van Rhijn came to Rio as a sprinting queen with two world records over the T44 100m and 200m. 

That was until GB's Sophie Kamlish broke it with a new best of 12.93 in the heats this morning. 

But the Dutch athlete insists she can go faster. She goes last on the track shortly. 

Bethany Firth speaking to BBC Radio 5 live's Kate Grey: “I’m just so happy. It just means that all those hard training sessions were well worth it. 

"Great Britain is such a strong team we’re really pushing each other on and I knew that I had to come out here and it was going to be the last event.

"I wanted to do something special and I’m really happy with my performance." 

Image source, PA

International Paralympic Committee president Sir Philip Craven: "This is truly heartbreaking news and the thoughts and condolences of the whole Paralympic movement are with Bahman’s family, friends, and team-mates as well as the whole of the National Paralympic Committee (NPC) of Iran.

"The Paralympic Family is united in grief at this horrendous tragedy which casts a shadow over what have been great Paralympic Games, external here in Rio."

Image source, PA