Actor who hanged himself after 'lynching scene went wrong' is declared brain dead

An Italian actor who fell into a coma after a lynching scene went wrong has been confirmed brain dead.

Raphael Schumacher, 27, was rushed to hospital after an audience member noticed he was in difficulty.

Mr Schumacher was starring in the six-scene experimental theatre piece Mirages in Pisa when the tragedy happened.

Police immediately sealed off the theatre following the incident.

The actor was not wearing a harness on stage, and although the actor had a bag over his head, an audience member, said to be a recent medical graduate, noticed that his legs were trembling and raised the alarm.

Mr Schumacher underwent a six-hour examination on Thursday, before doctors said he was clinically brain dead.

The hospital said in an official statement: "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."

Investigators are reportedly now looking into whether the theatre was negligent in following safety procedures.

One of the performers 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."