A baby has been killed and at least 15 people injured after a car ploughed through a busy promenade on Copacabana beach.

The horrifying incident happened at 8.45pm local time (10.45pm GMT) on Rio de Janeiro's Rua Figueredo de Magalhães boardwalk near the iconic beauty spot.

Initial reports claim an eight-month-old baby has been killed and at least 15 people injured, including the baby's mother.  

Authorities have confirmed the driver, Antonio de Almeida Anaquim, 41, had an epileptic seizure and lost control of his car. He has been detained by police. 

Local media reported that anti-seizure medicine was found in the driver's car and said he is now being tested for alcohol in his blood.  

Police have stressed the incident is not being treated as a terror attack, but is instead a 'serious accident'.

According to Globo1, beachgoers who saw the shocking crash beat the driver until they were stopped by police.  

Colonel Angelotti said: 'We got there in time to keep him from being lynched.' 

Brazilian media has reported that a woman is in a critical condition in hospital, while two other children have also been rushed to the emergency department in a serious state. 

They also report that the most severely hurt patient has a head injury.

Three men, three women and a two-year-old boy have been sent to the Souza Aguiar Hospital, it has been reported.

Their injuries are not believed to be life-threatening.  

The Hyundai I30 stopped in the sand after it apparently crossed the wide sidewalk that runs between the beach and a busy road. 

Witnesses claim the car was not driving at high speed as traffic in the area was intense. 

Several people were knocked down and seen lying on the ground. 

Pictures and mobile phone footage posted online show devastating scenes of the area with people lying motionless on the floor.  

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