An actor in Brazil has died 17-days after being strangled by his own safety equipment during an Easter play.

Tiago Klimeck, 27, hung himself while re-enacting the death of Judas Iscariot during the performance.

He had been playing the part of Judas in a Passion of Christ theatrical performance in the town of Itarare, in the state of Sao Paulo, Brazil.

While acting the scene in which Judas commits suicide after betraying Jesus, he was supposed to ?hang himself? from a rope then pretend to be dead.

But the safety vest the actor was using under is robe is believed to have risen up around his neck, strangling him.

Mr Klimeck was left dangling for four minutes until horrified performers and spectators realised it wasn?t part of his performance and rushed to his aid.

Pictures show the actor taking part in the play moments before the incident in which he was suffocated.

He remained in a critical condition in hospital after the accident during the Good Friday open-air performance.

Scans revealed that the incident caused cerebral anoxia due to the complete lack of oxygen to the brain.

The actor?s life support machine was finally switched off on Sunday afternoon. The incident is being investigated by the local police.

Brazil is a predominantly Catholic country where the Passion of Christ is put on every year in front of big audiences.

The biggest show is at 100,000sqm theatre complex in Pernambuco, north eastern Brazil.

Thousands of visitors watch more than 500 actors appear on the nine separate stages at what is one of biggest outdoor theatres in the world