Reality TV star Mano Machinek has died after losing control of a classic Porsche while filming an advert in northern Italy. The 37-year-old model was driving a blue Porsche 993 RS, hired for the production, when the crash occurred on a road near Gignese on Mottarone Mountain last Thursday.
Details of the crash
The car came off the road and rolled down a steep slope before striking a tree, trapping the driver inside. Firefighters, paramedics, and an air ambulance rushed to the scene, and rescuers freed him from the wreckage and performed CPR, but they were unable to save his life.
The shoot, organised by a Milan production company, was taking place on a road closed for the event. Further filming was planned later that day at Lake Maggiore. According to reports, the cameras were not rolling at the time of the crash, and the exact reason for the loss of control remains unknown.
Career and tribute
Mano was best known for appearing with his partner Maria Maksimovic in the first series of the Austrian reality show Forsthaus Rampensau on ATV in 2022. He was a passionate car enthusiast and often posted images from motoring events online. The German model lived in Switzerland with his partner.
The Austrian broadcaster ATV confirmed his death on Instagram, stating: “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 moving tribute, writing: “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 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 stars, and fans have expressed shock and offered condolences on social media.
Investigation
Authorities continue to examine the circumstances of the crash, including the organisation of the shoot.
