Brazil protests: TV journalist declared 'brain-dead' after being caught in Rio de Janeiro violence

Journalists put their cameras down for one minute, in tribute to Santiago Andrade, who has been declared brain-dead after being injured by a flare in Thursday's violence (AP)

A Brazilian television station said one of its cameramen was declared brain-dead yesterday after being injured during a violent protest last week in Rio de Janeiro.

Band TV said in a statement that Santiago Andrade, 49, remained in a coma on life support, but that doctors declared him brain-dead.

Andrade was hit in the head by a powerful flare fired during a protest against a 10-cent hike in bus fares in Rio on Thursday.

Video footage seems to show that the flare was shot by protesters. A demonstrator has since turned himself into police, saying he didn't shoot the flare but provided it to another young man who did. Police are investigating.

A small group of protesters gathered yesterday evening in central Rio, again demonstrating against the bus fare increase.

Amid the protest, television cameramen and photographers gathered at the spot where Andrade was hit by the flare to pay tribute to him.

Anti-government protests erupted across Brazil last June, hitting their peak as 1 million Brazilians took to streets on a single night, calling for better schools and health care and questioning the billions spent to host this year's World Cup and the 2016 Olympics. The protests have since diminished in size, but remain violent.

AP