Giorgi “Tzane” Janelidze, a 23-year-old fitness influencer known for his dynamic presence on TikTok and Instagram, met a tragic end on Wednesday, March 13, 2024, while exploring the ancient abandoned village of Roghudi Vecchio in Calabria, Italy. A place steeped in history and abandoned since the 1970s due to severe flooding, it was the backdrop for what was meant to be an adventurous video shoot with friends.
While filming the video for his social media channels, Janelidze and his companions found themselves standing on an unprotected balcony lacking safety railings. Janelidze lost his balance at the precarious location and fell into a narrow ravine filled with jagged rocks.
Rescue teams, including the fire brigade from Melito Porto Salvo and the SAF unit, rushed to the site, but the challenging terrain hampered their efforts, and by the time they reached him, it was too late. A helicopter from the Lamezia Terme del Corpo flight department had to be called in to recover Janelidze’s body, which was later transferred to the coastal town of Saline Joniche and left in the hands of local authorities.
“Tzane is no longer with us,” announced a grief-stricken Chris Kogias, a fellow influencer and friend who accompanied Janelidze on the trip, as per reports from Greek media. “He left us yesterday afternoon during the trip we made to Italy. Please pray with us for his soul to rest in peace.”
The young influencer, originally from the Republic of Georgia but residing in Greece, was celebrated as one of the “best fitness influencers on Greek TikTok.” In recent months, he had embarked on a business venture with a friend known as ‘Dream Greek’ selling T-shirts and protein powder, regularly showcasing their fitness and travel endeavors to over 103,000 followers on Instagram.
The news of his passing has left friends, family, and fans worldwide in mourning. “The most beautiful person inside and out, the biggest adventure I’ve ever had with someone,” Elena Margariti, Janelidze’s girlfriend, penned in a heart-wrenching Instagram story. “So unfairly, so early. I love you so much. We will meet again. My Tzitsi.”
Janelidze’s father is reportedly traveling to Calabria to identify his son’s body and bring him back home to Greece, marking a solemn end to a journey that began with dreams and aspirations of capturing beauty and adventure but concluded with an irreplaceable loss.
This tragic incident shines a light on the risks undertaken by content creators in their quest to captivate and engage their audience. The allure of exploring and documenting forgotten places, often fraught with danger, underscores the need for safety and preparedness in even the most seemingly innocuous adventures.