Felix Baumgartner, the Austrian daredevil famed for his record-breaking skydive from the edge of space in 2012, has died at the age of 56 in a motorised paragliding accident in Italy.
The incident occurred near a hotel swimming pool in the village of Porto Sant’Elpidio, located in Italy’s eastern Marche region. According to local reports, Baumgartner may have suffered a sudden medical emergency while in flight.
Porto Sant’Elpidio’s mayor, Massimiliano Ciarpella, described Baumgartner as “a symbol of courage and passion for extreme flights,” and extended condolences on behalf of the town.
Baumgartner gained global fame in 2012 when he leapt from a helium balloon at an altitude of more than 39km (128,000 ft) above Earth, becoming the first person to break the sound barrier in freefall and setting the world record for the highest skydive.
Tributes have poured in from fans worldwide, many commenting beneath one of his final social media posts—a video of him working on the motor of his paraglider. Another post shared shortly before the fatal flight included a photo of a full windsock and the caption: “too much wind.”
Known as “Fearless Felix,” Baumgartner was widely respected for pushing the limits of human flight through a series of daring stunts over the course of his career.
