Actor Playing Judas in 'Passion' Play Who Accidentally Hung Himself Dies
A Brazilian actor died on Sunday after accidentally hanging himself during an Easter play in which he was re-enacting the suicide of Judas Iscariot, whom the Bible describes as the betrayer of Jesus.
Tiago Klimeck, 27, died on Sunday in the hospital after accidentally hanging himself during an open performance on Good Friday in the Brazilian city of Itarare, which is 214 miles west of San Paulo.
Klimeck was preforming onstage as Judas in "The Passion of Christ" play when he attempted to reenact the scene in which the disciple commits suicide after betraying Jesus for 30 pieces of silver, as recorded in the Bible.
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Matthew 27:3-5 (NIV), one biblical passage that describes Judas' death, reads:
When Judas, who had betrayed him, saw that Jesus was condemned, he was seized with remorse and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders.
"I have sinned," he said, "for I have betrayed the innocent."
"What is that to us?" they replied. "That is your responsibility."
"So Judas threw the money into the temple and left. He then went away and hanged himself."
However, the actor, in his reenactment of the scene, accidentally hung himself, without fellow actors or audience members taking immediate notice. Klimeck was hanging for four minutes before anyone realized that something was wrong.
The Brazilian actor was rushed to the hospital and doctors reportedly determined that he was suffering from cerebral hypoxia. He was in a coma for 17 days prior to his death.
Police were investigating the security apparatus that was supposed to keep Klimeck safe during the re-enactment of the suicide scene. It is believed that the safety vest Klimeck was wearing rose above his neck and strangled him.
An autopsy was being conducted on Monday and it is unclear if charges will be filed in Klimeck's death.
"The Passion of Christ" is preformed every year for Easter in the predominately Catholic country and attracts widespread audiences across the nation.
