Felix Baumgartner, the Austrian daredevil known for jumping from the edge of space, has died in a paragliding accident. He was 56.
Baumgartner lost control of his motorized paraglider while flying over Porto Sant’Elpidio in central Italy. The incident happened on Thursday as he crashed into a hotel swimming pool. Local police confirmed his death, while the cause of the crash remains unknown.
Reports say several people were in the pool at the time and witnessed the accident. The town’s mayor, Massimiliano Ciarpella, shared condolences and called Baumgartner a “symbol of courage and passion for extreme flights.”
Baumgartner rose to global fame in 2012. He jumped from a helium balloon 38 kilometres (24 miles) above Earth, wearing a special suit. The jump took place over Roswell, New Mexico. He became the first human to break the sound barrier without the aid of a vehicle.
During the nine-minute fall, he reached a speed of 1,343 km/h (about 834 mph). At one point, he spun dangerously in the air for 13 seconds before regaining control.
After landing safely, Baumgartner said the experience was humbling. “The only thing you want is to come back alive,” he said.
Nicknamed “Fearless Felix,” he was a former Austrian military parachutist. He performed thousands of jumps from planes, towers, and landmarks around the world. His stunts included leaping from Rio’s Christ the Redeemer statue and the Petronas Towers in Malaysia.
In his later years, Baumgartner flew helicopters in air shows with the Flying Bulls team. He also made headlines for his political views, including support for far-right leaders and controversial social media posts.
Despite criticism, Baumgartner remained proud of his achievements. He once said he wasn’t an adrenaline junkie but loved careful planning. “I always had the desire to be in the air,” he said.
His 2012 space jump remains one of the most iconic moments in the history of extreme sports. Baumgartner’s life was defined by his passion for flying and pushing the limits of human achievement.
