A famous Italian winemakehas been crushed to death while cleaning a grape press in his family’s cellar.

The tragedy happened in Castelcucco, a small municipality in the province of Treviso in northern Italy, on Friday, 10th October.

The victim, 44-year-old Matteo Forner, was the son of the owner of the Pat del Colmél winery and a serving city councillor.

Matteo Forner, 44, poses in undated photo. He was crushed and killed while cleaning a grape press in Castelcucco, Italy. Note: Private photo taken from social media. (@patdelcolmel.vini/newsX)

He had been carrying out end-of-day cleaning when the machine suddenly activated, trapping his neck.

Emergency services rushed to the scene, but paramedics could only confirm his death.

Firefighters, Carabinieri officers, and inspectors from the Spisal unit of the Local Health Authority 2 carried out investigations into the fatal accident.

According to initial reports, the machinery appeared to restart unexpectedly, though it remains unclear whether the cause was mechanical failure or human error.

Matteo Forner, 44, poses in undated photo. He was crushed and killed while cleaning a grape press in Castelcucco, Italy. Note: Private photo taken from social media. (@patdelcolmel.vini/newsX)

The Treviso Public Prosecutor’s Office has opened an investigation into the incident on suspicion of manslaughter.

Forner, who was elected to the Castelcucco council in 2022, was widely known in the region for his efforts to preserve ancient grape varieties such as Recantina and Rabbiosa.

He leaves behind his parents, a 15-year-old son, a brother, and a sister.

(Mike Leidig / newsX)