A reality star has died while driving a classic Porsche for an advert shoot.
Mano Machinek reportedly lost control of the sports car and careered off the road while filming the commercial.
The 37-year-old model died on the main road on Mottarone Mountain near Gignese in northern Italy last Thursday (30 Jul).
READ MORE: Miss Universe spills all about rumoured romance with ‘handsome’ Jude Bellingham
Emergency crews including firefighters, paramedics and a helicopter from Como freed him from the wreckage and attempted CPR, but were unable to save his life.
The road had been closed for the shoot organised by a Milan production company, with further filming planned later that day by Lake Maggiore.
Mano was behind the wheel of the blue Porsche 993 RS, which had been hired for the production and was not his own vehicle, when he lost control on a bend.
The car left the carriageway, rolled down a steep slope and struck a tree in woodland, trapping the driver.
The exact reason for the loss of control remains unclear and the incident was not allegedly captured on the cameras present.
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 also a passionate car enthusiast who often shared images of motoring events and motorsports online, as reported by Need To Know.
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.
Authorities continue to examine the circumstances of the crash, including the organisation of the shoot.
