Winemaker is found dead in a barrel of prosecco after passing out from toxic fumes while saving a colleague who had fallen in.
- Marco Bettolini was reportedly found dead at the bottom of the tank of prosecco
A winemaker has been found dead in a huge vat of prosecco after fainting from toxic fermentation gas while saving a colleague.
The heroic Marco Bettolini jumped into the tank last Thursday when he saw colleague Alberto Pin faint at the Ca’ di Rajo winery in the province of Treviso, in the Italian region of Veneto.
But Mr Bettolini was also quickly overcome by the same fumes and collapsed in the tank after rescuing his friend, local media reported.
Both winemakers fell into the barrel, but only Mr. Bettolini died. He was reportedly found dead at the bottom of the tank while Mr Pin was taken to hospital.
Toxic fumes such as carbon monoxide and nitrogen produced during winemaking can be fatal in confined spaces, especially if produced in large quantities.
Marco Bettolini (pictured), an Italian winemaker, is said to have drowned in a barrel of wine that fell into the fermenting brew while trying to save a colleague
Heroic Marco Bettolini (photo) jumped into the tank when he saw colleague Alberto Pin fainting at the Ca’ di Rajo winery in the province of Treviso
Neither man, it turned out, was wearing an oxygen tank and gas mask at the time of the incident.
Accident investigators believe Pin had entered the tank when he noticed a malfunction in one of the tank gauges.
An autopsy must determine whether Bettollini died of drowning or suffocation.
Wineries generally have the necessary ventilation systems that allow toxic air to escape and prevent serious incidents.
Chief Prosecutor Marco Martani said: “According to the information collected so far by the police, no one should have entered that barrel, because the maintenance work has been entrusted to an external specialized company equipped with masks and systems that would have prevented the risk of intoxication .’
The winery’s owner, Simone Cecchetto, expressed his condolences, adding: ‘We are devastated by grief; to us they are like two brothers, two sons.
“My thoughts are only with these young men who grew up with us and their families. We pray that Alberto recovers as quickly as possible.”
Pin remains in hospital in intensive care.
The investigation is ongoing. The local health authority is also investigating the matter.
About 15,000 wheels of cheese collapsed after one shelf caused a deadly domino effect at a factory in Lombardy (pictured)
Cheesemaker Giacomo Chiapparini is survived by his wife, two children and several grandchildren
Italian unions have long questioned safety standards in the food and beverage industry.
It comes after the boss of an Italian cheese company was crushed to death last month when 15,000 wheels of cheese buried him in his own factory.
Giacomo Chiapparini, 74, was tragically found dead by firefighters after a plank broke at his factory in the northern region of Lombardy in early August, causing a domino effect that brought down a total of 15,000 wheels from Grana Padano.
The wheels of Grana Padano cheese, which is very similar to Parmigiano Reggiano, can weigh up to 40 kg each.