Emily in Paris Assistant Director Diego Borella Dies at 47 After ‘Collapsing’ During Filming of the Netflix Show

Diego Borella, an assistant director of Emily in Paris, has died. He was 47. 

“We are deeply saddened to confirm the sudden passing of a member of the Emily in Paris production family,” a Paramount Television Studios spokesperson told PEOPLE in a statement. “Our hearts go out to the individual’s family and loved ones during this incredibly difficult time.”

Borella was pronounced dead after he collapsed while filming the fifth season of the hit Netflix show in Italy at around 7:00 p.m. local time on Thursday, Aug. 21, local news outlets La Repubblica, Il Messaggero and Corriere della Sera reported. The tragedy took place during preparation for a final scene inside Hotel Danieli in Venice, the outlets said.

Medical staff on set attempted to revive Borella, but he died at the scene, according to the outlets. A local doctor confirmed the assistant director’s death, stating that he likely died of “a sudden heart attack,” per La Repubblica.

Filming for the fifth season of Emily in Paris had been suspended following the incident, according to Il Messaggero. It later resumed on Saturday, Aug. 23.

Borella was a well-known Venetian professional who had trained in Rome, London and New York, and also worked in the visual arts and literature, according to La Repubblica.

He had been in Italy for the filming of the fifth season of Emily in Paris in recent weeks, where he served as a locally hired third assistant director.

Just days before Borella’s death, Lily Collins, who plays the titular character, posted photos from behind the scenes of filming the show on location.

In an Instagram post shared on Aug. 19, the actress, 36, included photos of herself standing on a pier in Venice, as well as one of her posing on a boat with costar Ashley Park.

“Joy ride to and from work with the best…,” Collins wrote in the caption of the post.

“Caption, chapeau, cherished memories game STRONG,” Park, 34, responded in the comments section. “You KNOW how much I love you. another adventure for the books 🥹.”

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Collins also posted photos of herself taking in some Italian sights while filming on a boat in another Instagram post shared three days earlier.

“A very Venetian getaway. When work becomes play…,” Collins captioned that social media post.

Netflix, as well as two production companies for Emily in Paris — Darren Star Productions and Jax Media — did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment on Aug. 23.