Popular South African rapper Costa Titch has died on stage during a performance at a music festival over the weekend.

The 28-year-old rapper, whose real name is Constantinos Tsobanoglou, was delivering an electrifying performance for fans onstage at the Ultra Music Festival in Johannesburg, South Africa on Saturday (March 11), when he suddenly collapsed.

Video footage of the incident has been circulating on social media, showing the rapper appearing to fall on stage. He was picked up by a person next to him but after several seconds, he appeared to fall again and collapsed off the stage.

Distraught fans descended into panic as the rapper appeared to fall unconscious in the middle of his show. Costa was immediately rushed to hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

It is believed that the trap music legend never regained consciousness following the shock collapse.

His family confirmed his death via Instagram, logging into his account to tell the world that they had been “robbed” of a talented rapper whom they loved.

“Death has tragically knocked at our door. Robbing us of our beloved son, brother and grandson, Constantinos Tsobanoglou, who South Africa had come to love and idolise under his stage name ‘Costa Titch’,” the statement read.

“We’re thankful for the emergency responders and all those present in his last hours on this earth. As a family we are faced with a difficult time as we try to make sense of what has befallen us and ask that we be afforded the time and space to gather ourselves.”

The tribute continued: “The Tsobanoglou family thanks you for the love and support you have given to our son and may you continue to uplift him even in spirit. Please keep us in your prayers and uplifted in the Lord.”

The family did not share a cause of death.

Ultra South Africa said in a statement on Sunday: “We are devastated by the sudden loss of the beloved South African artist Costa Titch, who tragically passed away this weekend.”

The festival remembered the artiste as a talented rapper, dancer, songwriter, collaborator and “a galvanising voice amongst South Africa’s amapiano scene”.

The festival’s statement continued: “Our deepest thoughts and most sincere sympathies are with his family, friends, and our entire community who are together mourning this heartbreaking loss.”