Fitness Influencer Giorgi ‘Tzane’ Janelidze, 23, Falls To His Death Filming Content For Social Media

Fitness influencer Giorgi “Tzane” Janelidze, 23, tragically died on Wednesday when he fell into a ravine while he and his friends explored an abandoned Italian ghost town while he was filming content for social media.

The news of Janelidze’s passing was confirmed by his friend and fellow influencer, Chris Kogias, who was along with him on the ill-fated trip. Kogias posted to X, “Unfortunately, Tzane is no longer with us. He left us yesterday afternoon on our trip to Italy. Pray with us for his soul to rest in peace.”

The incident occurred in a content shoot in Roghudi Vecchio, Calabria, an ancient mountain village that was abandoned in the 1970s due to a flood. As reported by Jam Press, Janelidze lost his footing and fell into a deep ravine while he was on a balcony without a railing.

Emergency services were called to the scene, but the steepness of the gorge meant a helicopter was required to retrieve Janelidze’s body. With the assistance of a stretcher, the helicopter successfully lifted his body from the ravine. Janelidze’s remains were then transported to the coastal town of Saline Joniche and handed over to the authorities.

Born in Georgia, Janelidze lived in Greece and gained popularity within fitness circles on Instagram, where he regularly shared workout routines and travel snapshots with his extensive followers, over 100,000 followers. Additionally, he co-founded a business with fellow fitness influencer “Dream Greek,” where they sold T-shirts and protein powder online.

In an emotional Instagram story, Janelidze’s girlfriend, Elena Margariti, expressed her devastation, and described Janelidze as, “The most beautiful person inside and out, the biggest adventure I’ve ever had with someone.”

She continued, “Many dreams, a home together, through our difficulties, through our joys, and we made it, us against all odds. So unfairly, so early. I love you so much. We will meet again. My Tzitsi.”

Roghudi Vecchio is nestled amidst the picturesque landscapes of the hilly Calabria region in Italy. Once a vibrant community, it served as a haven for one of Italy’s last remnants of Greek-speaking inhabitants. Its origins trace back to the 11th century and played a significant role in the Greek colonization in the eighth century BC.