Felix Baumgartner, the Austrian daredevil who captured global attention in 2012 by skydiving from the edge of space, has died following a paragliding accident in Italy. He was 56.
The incident occurred on Thursday in Porto Sant’Elpidio, a coastal town in Italy’s central Marche region. According to local police and media reports, Baumgartner lost control of his motorised paraglider and crashed near a hotel swimming pool. While the exact cause of the accident remains under investigation, local officials have not ruled out the possibility of a sudden medical episode mid-air.
Baumgartner rose to international prominence on 14 October 2012, when he leapt from a helium balloon at approximately 38km (~127,852 feet) above the Earth over Roswell, New Mexico. The stunt, backed by Red Bull, saw him become the first person to break the sound barrier in freefall, reaching a speed of over 833 mph (1,343 kph). The feat was timed to coincide with the 65th anniversary of American pilot Chuck Yeager’s pioneering supersonic flight.
Throughout his career, Baumgartner was known for pushing the boundaries of human flight and personal endurance. His resume of high-risk jumps included base jumping from Malaysia’s own Petronas Twin Towers and Rio de Janeiro’s Christ the Redeemer statue, as well as skydiving across the English Channel.
In a statement on Thursday, Red Bull expressed deep sorrow over the loss of their longtime collaborator. “We are shocked and overwhelmed with sadness,” the company said. “Felix was born to fly and was determined to push the limits. He was smart, professional, thorough, and meticulous, never leaving anything to chance.”
(Source: CNN)
