Reality television personality Mano Machinek has died aged 37 following a horrific car accident while shooting a commercial in northern Italy. The model was driving a blue Porsche 993 RS when the vehicle is understood to have veered off the road on Mottarone Mountain near Gignese last Thursday.
Emergency Response and Rescue Attempts
Emergency services, including fire crews, paramedics and an air ambulance, raced to the scene following the collision. Rescuers succeeded in extracting Mano from the wreckage and administered CPR, but tragically he could not be revived.
The Porsche had been rented for the production and did not belong to Mano personally. Reports indicate he lost control on a corner, sending the car tumbling down a steep embankment before colliding with a tree. The precise cause of the accident remains unclear, and it has been reported that cameras were not recording at the moment of the incident.
Commercial Shoot Details
The commercial shoot had been arranged by a Milan-based production firm, with the road shut down exclusively for the filming. Additional scenes were scheduled later that day at Lake Maggiore.
Career and Personal Life
Mano was most recognised for featuring on Austrian reality programme Forsthaus Rampensau alongside his partner Maria Maksimovic in 2022. Beyond television, the German model, who resided in Switzerland with Maria, was renowned for his passion for automobiles and frequently posted photographs from motoring events online.
Tributes and Investigation
The Austrian broadcaster ATV confirmed his death in an Instagram post, writing: "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."
Maria paid a heartfelt tribute to her partner, disclosing he had perished while doing something that he loved. She wrote: "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 romantically involved 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."
Tributes have subsequently poured in from supporters, companions and fellow reality stars following the devastating news. Authorities are continuing to examine the circumstances surrounding the collision, including the particulars of the commercial shoot.
