Reality television personality Mano Machinek has died following a collision involving a classic Porsche he was driving during a commercial filming session in Italy. The 37-year-old model lost control of the vehicle, which veered off the carriageway while shooting.
Crash on Mottarone Mountain
Machinek was navigating the principal route on Mottarone Mountain near Gignese in northern Italy on Thursday, July 30. Emergency services, including firefighters, paramedics, and an air ambulance from Como, attended the incident. Crews managed to extract him from the wreckage, but he succumbed to his injuries shortly thereafter.
The road had been shut for the production, organised by a Milan-based firm, with additional sequences scheduled later that day beside Lake Maggiore.
Classic Porsche involved
Machinek was behind the wheel of a blue Porsche 993 RS, a motor hired specifically for the production rather than his personal vehicle, when he lost command on a curve. The car departed the roadway, tumbled down a precipitous slope, and collided with a tree in forested terrain, leaving the driver pinned within.
The exact circumstances leading to the loss of control remain undetermined, and the incident was not allegedly recorded by filming equipment present at the location.
Tributes from partner and broadcaster
Machinek was best known for appearing alongside his partner Maria Maksimovic in the inaugural series of the Austrian reality programme Forsthaus Rampensau on ATV in 2022. He was also an avid automotive enthusiast who frequently posted material from motoring gatherings and racing events online.
Austrian broadcaster ATV confirmed his passing on Instagram, posting: "We mourn Mano, who died in a car accident. Our sincere condolences to the bereaved. Maria, we wish you every strength and are thinking of you."
His partner posted a heartfelt message, saying: "My beloved Mano has died in a tragic car accident – while doing something he loved more than almost anything else in this world: driving a car. He was at the wheel of a Porsche, a car that meant so much more to him than just a vehicle. Everyone who knew Mano knew how much he loved cars, the road and the feeling of freedom behind the wheel."
Maria, who had been together with Mano since January 2019, added: "It breaks my heart that exactly what he loved so much became the moment I had to say goodbye to him." Friends, fellow reality TV personalities, and supporters have expressed disbelief and shared sympathy across social media platforms.
Officials are continuing their investigation into the circumstances surrounding the collision, including the arrangements for the filming.
