An Italian actor is in a coma after a scene in which his character was being lynched on-stage went wrong.
Raphael Schumacher, 27, was rushed to hospital on Sunday night after an audience member realised he was being hanged when a rope tightened around his neck, it was reported.
Mr Schumacher was appearing in Mirages, an experimental theatre production staged in Pisa, when the incident took place.
Police have launched an investigation and sealed off the theatre while officers interviewed cast and crew members, according to reports.
The incident is thought to have happened when a box on which Mr Schumacher was supposed to stand while he wore the noose was moved.
He was also meant to wear a body harness.
One actor 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."
Mirages is made up of six scenes staged in different parts of the theatre, with the audience walking between them.
The scene, which was performed successfully earlier the same evening, was performed in a courtyard.
It is believed a spectator, who is a recent medical graduate, realised something was wrong when Mr Schumacher began trembling.
On Monday he remained seriously ill in hospital.
The actor’s mother rejected the theory, reportedly explored by police, that he may have tried to take his own life.
She said: "My son recently lost his father and had ended a relationship but had found his serenity again.
“He didn't leave a suicide note and had no reason to kill himself."
