Felix Baumgartner, the Austrian adventurer best known for his record-setting 2012 leap from the stratosphere, has passed away aged 56 in a paragliding crash in Italy.
The incident occurred on Thursday afternoon, July 17, near the Adriatic coastal town of Porto Sant’Elpidio, where Baumgartner had been flying a powered paraglider over a hotel pool area when the tragic accident unfolded .
Local authorities suggest he suffered a sudden health issue mid-flight—possibly a heart attack—before losing control of the craft and hitting the pool’s edge at the Le Mimose campsite .
Emergency responders and hotel staff attempted resuscitation on site, but he was pronounced dead upon arrival of medical personnel.
A female hotel employee was also hurt in the accident, sustaining neck injuries after being struck by debris from the collision .
Earlier that day, Baumgartner had hinted at difficult conditions, posting a video to his social media showing strong winds as he checked his equipment .
Known globally as “Fearless Felix,” his rise to international prominence came from stepping out of a helium balloon from about 39 km (24 miles) above New Mexico.
During that historic jump, he became the first human to break the sound barrier in free fall and set multiple world records—highest skydive, fastest vertical free-fall, and greatest free-fall distance .
Baumgartner’s death has prompted an outpouring of grief, with fans, fellow thrill-seekers, and sponsors like Red Bull paying tribute to his contributions to extreme sport.
His legacy lives on in the daring achievements that inspired a generation of adventurers.