A film director, who turned his life around, has died seven days after a horror scooter accident.
Gaetano Di Vaio, 56, lost control of the vehicle he was riding back from a wedding on May 16.
The filmmaker sustained serious injuries when he hit the tarmac in Qualiano, near his home city of Naples, Italy.
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He was taken to a hospital in nearby Giugliano, Campania, in critical condition.
Medics tried to wake him from his coma on Thursday (23 May) morning, but he had two heart attacks, the second of which was fatal.
Di Vaio had a troubled childhood, as reported on Need To Know.
He was addicted to and dealt drugs as a teenager, before ending up in a young offenders institution and later prison, where he served seven years for robbery and drug dealing.
He used his time behind bars to study, which led him on his career path as an actor, producer and director.
Among other roles, he played the character ‘o Baroncino in the successful crime drama ‘Gomorra – La serie’.
Two of his productions, ‘Là-bas – Educazione criminale’ and ‘SottoCoperta’, won awards at the Venice and Bari International Film Festivals.
His films were largely set in Naples and depicted social hardship and the fight against crime.
Di Vaio’s funeral was held in his home city on Monday (27 May) morning.
The carabinieri are investigating what caused him to lose control of his scooter.
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