Not an act: Italian accidentally hangs himself in theatre performance

Raphael Schumacher, 27, was accidentally hanged during a live theatre performance in Italy last Saturday. After being in coma since the accident, he was declared dead on Thursday and now prosecutors in Pisa on Friday opened a manslaughter probe.

A theatre actor was accidentally hanged during a live theatre performance in Italy last Saturday. After being in coma since the accident, he was declared dead on Thursday and now prosecutors in Pisa on Friday opened a manslaughter probe.

Theatre actor Raphael Schumacher was hanged during live stage performance last Saturday. He died on Thursday after being in coma. (Twitter)

Raphael Schumacher, 27, was supposed to be simulating a hanging and it was only when a horrified spectator realised that something was wrong that the alarm was raised, too late.

Two of the theatre’s directors and two technicians have been notified that they are under investigation in the manslaughter investigation.

Prosecutors have discounted the possibility that the tragedy may have been a suicide, Italian media reported.