actor Raphael Schumacher brain dead after theatre scene went wrong

An actor who was left in coma after a lynching scene went wrong live on stage has been declared clinically brain dead.

Italian actor Raphael Schumacher was rushed to hospital after he was strangled during a production of Mirages at the Teatro Lux in Pisa.

Yesterday, the 27-year-old was reported to be ‘deteriorating’ after he failed to respond to treatment.

And now, doctors have ruled that he is brain dead.

Raphael’s grieving relatives have agreed for his organs to be donated, pending a medical assessment tonight.

In a statement this morning, the hospital said: “The family and the prosecutor’s office have both authorised that his organs be donated, but their removal will be subject to a medical assessment to be performed in the course of the night.”

It comes as an investigation into the incident has concluded that it was an accident, Pisa Today reported.

A member of the audience raised the alarm after noticing that Raphael was in serious pain.

The man, believed to be a recent medical graduate, helped Raphael – who was wearing a bag over his head – by lowering him to the ground, according to the BBC.

He was reportedly interviewed by police, along with other members of the cast and audience, before the conclusion was made.

Investigators will now try to identify if the theatre was negligent in following safety standards.

One report claims that a box Raphael was meant to stand on while the noose was put around his neck had been moved.

Others claim the actor allegedly changed the ending of the scene, which was meant to involve a gun rather than a hanging.

Initial investigations have also revealed that he was not wearing a body harness as required.

An actor involved in the play who wished not to be named said: “The noose should have been fake and a harness should have caught him if he fell.

“I cannot explain how an incident like this happened.”