Italian Actor Raphael Schumacher Declared Clinically Dead After Tragic Stage Accident

Raphael Schumacher, an Italian stage actor, has been pronounced clinically dead following a tragic accident during a live performance.

Raphael Schumacher Clinically Dead

Schumacher, 27, was performing in an experimental theater production at Italy’s Pisa’s Teatro Lux Saturday night when he was to act out a suicide hanging scene, according to People. The scene went horribly wrong. Realizing that Schumacher was actually being strangled on stage, two audience members rushed up to rescue him. Though they were able to loosen the noose, Schumacher had lost consciousness and has been in a coma ever since.

According to directors of the theater company, Schumacher initially intended to end his monologue with a fake gunshot, but had changed the ending last minute, reported Italian newspaper Il Giorno.

“The original monologue included a fake gunshot but he eventually decided for the hanging – without telling us,” a director said, as translated by CNN.

On Friday, nearly a week since the incident, doctors declared Schumacher brain dead, a result of severe oxygen deprivation, reported CNN. The late thespian’s family have decided to allow his organs to be recovered for transplants.

Although Schumacher’s death appeared to be an accident, investigators are looking into the possibility of suicide or manslaughter due to negligence. Four people are reportedly under investigation for negligence. Schumacher’s family does not believe that the young actor intentionally took his own life.