Mano Machinek killed in Porsche crash during Italian ad shoot

Mano Machinek, a German model and reality television personality, has died following a horrific car accident in northern Italy. The fatal collision occurred while Machinek was shooting a commercial on Mottarone Mountain near Gignese. According to reports, the production involved a blue Porsche 993 RS that had been rented specifically for the shoot and did not belong to Machinek personally. The road on the mountain had been shut down exclusively for the filming by a Milan-based production firm, with additional scenes scheduled for later that same day at Lake Maggiore.

Emergency services rushed to the scene following the crash, including fire crews, paramedics, and an air ambulance. Rescuers succeeded in extracting Machinek from the wreckage and administered CPR, but he could not be revived. Reports indicate that he lost control of the sports car on a corner, sending the vehicle tumbling down a steep embankment before colliding with a tree and trapping him inside. The precise cause of the accident remains unclear, and reports indicate that cameras were not recording at the moment of the incident. Authorities are continuing to examine the circumstances surrounding the collision, including the particulars of the commercial shoot.

Media additions

Chronology of the incident and emergency response

• Machinek drove a rented blue Porsche 993 RS on a stretch of road on Mottarone Mountain near Gignese that had been closed exclusively for a commercial shoot.
• The vehicle veered off the road on a corner, tumbled down a steep embankment, and collided with a tree.
• Fire crews, paramedics, and an air ambulance arrived at the scene, extracted Machinek from the wreckage, and administered CPR.
• Rescuers were unable to revive him, and authorities began examining the circumstances of the crash and the organisation of the shoot.

Tributes have poured in from supporters, companions, and fellow reality stars following the devastating news. Machinek was widely recognised for featuring on the Austrian reality programme Forsthaus Rampensau alongside his partner Maria Maksimovic. Beyond television, the German model resided in Switzerland with Maria and was renowned for his passion for automobiles, frequently posting photographs from motoring events online.

The Austrian broadcaster ATV confirmed his death in an Instagram post, addressing the bereaved:

"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."

ATV, via Instagram

Maria paid a heartfelt tribute to her partner, disclosing that he had perished while doing something he loved dearly:

"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 Maksimovic, partner, via Express and Mirror

Professional background and personal life

• Machinek worked as a model and gained public recognition through his appearance on reality television.
• He appeared alongside his partner Maria Maksimovic on the first series of the Austrian reality show Forsthaus Rampensau on ATV.
• He maintained a reputation as a passionate car enthusiast who frequently shared images from motoring events online.
• He resided in Switzerland with Maria Maksimovic, with whom he shared a relationship.

As tributes continue to circulate among fans and friends on social media, authorities are pressing forward with their inquiries. Investigators are examining the precise factors that led to the vehicle leaving the road, as well as reviewing the safety measures and logistical arrangements put in place by the Milan production company for the closed-road commercial shoot.