A tragic incident occurred where a winemaker, Matteo Forner, lost his life in a grape press accident just days before his 45th birthday celebration. While cleaning the press on October 10th around 7:45 p.m., the machine unexpectedly activated, trapping Matteo inside and causing a fatal neck injury.
The heartbreaking event took place at a winery constructed with Matteo’s family’s help, where his father, Lino, reportedly witnessed the tragic accident. Despite believing the machine was turned off, a temporary power outage caused it to restart when power was restored, as per local reports.
Emergency responders, including firefighters and medical personnel, arrived at the scene, but Matteo was pronounced dead on-site. His body was subsequently taken to the Castelfranco Veneto mortuary.
Matteo, a prominent figure in the Grappa region and recently elected to the city council for the Castelcucco Nuova party, had been preparing for his upcoming birthday. Mayor Paolo Mares expressed his condolences to Matteo’s family, recalling him as a dear friend and dedicated worker.
The winery, Pat del Colmél, situated in the Montello Colli Asolani sub-region of Treviso in the Veneto, has been a family-owned business since 1875, passed down through generations. Matteo, survived by his parents, 15-year-old son, brother, and sister, had been actively involved in leading the company in recent years.
The tragic loss of Matteo deeply impacts not only his family but the entire community. Mayor Mares emphasized Matteo’s strong work ethic and the valuable contributions he made to the winery and society, highlighting the resilience of the Forner family in the face of this tragedy.