Italian winemaker dies after falling into vat of wine while trying to save colleague

An Italian winemaker died after falling into a vat of wine (Representational image)

An Italian winemaker has died at the age of 46 after falling into a vat of wine while trying to save a colleague. Marco Bettolini is believed to have fallen into the vat after becoming ill from inhaling alcohol vapours, the New York Post reported.

Bettolini was doing maintenance work at Ca’ di Rajo winery in northeastern Italy when he noticed his co-worker, Alberto Pin, had fallen ill. Bettolini rushed over to Pin, 31, and was reaching out to him when he lost his balance and fell into the vat.

It is believed that both of them were dizzy from the toxic fumes emitted during the winemaking process.

Bettolini fell a few feet into the vat of wine, where some liquid still remained, and smacked his head at the bottom. It is not clear whether he drowned or died from exposure to toxic fumes. Meanwhile, Alberto Pin was rushed to the hospital in serious condition, where he remains in a medically-induced coma.

Chief Prosecutor Marco Martani said that no one should have entered the autoclave, which has a dangerous level of nitrogen. From the information gathered so far by the judicial police no one should have entered that autoclaves the maintenance work is entrusted to a specialized external company equipped with masks and systems that would have prevented the risk of gas poisoning,” Martani was quoted as saying by News Italy 24.

The autoclave where the tragedy occurred has been seized as part of the investigation. An autopsy will be conducted to determine whether Bettolini died from drowning or asphyxiation.