Assistant director, 47, dies after collapsing during filming for hit Netflix show

An assistant director for the hit Netflix show Emily in Paris has died while filming in Venice. Diego Borella, 47, reportedly collapsed while preparing to shoot the final scene of the upcoming fifth season. Emergency crews raced to the historic Hotel Danieli at around 7pm on Thursday - but despite their efforts, they could not save him, La Repubblica reports.

Borella, a highly respected Venetian professional, had honed his craft in Rome, London and New York. Italian outlets say he also turned his hand to writing, penning fairy tales and children's stories alongside his career. Filming on the hit Netflix series Emily in Paris has reportedly been put on hold in the wake of his sudden death.

Filming had been due to wrap within days, with the shoot scheduled between August 15 and August 25. Season five of Emily in Paris is set to drop on Netflix on December 18 as it follows Lily Collins' character Emily Cooper as she heads to Rome to work at Agence Grateau.

Back in May, Collins was spotted zipping through the Italian capital on a scooter and shooting glamorous scenes inside the Fendi store. The fourth season, which aired last year, saw Emily fall for Italian heartthrob Marcello, played by 33-year-old actor Eugenio Franceschini.