• Source:JND
Add as a preferred

Felix Baumgartner Death: Legendary Austrian skydiver and extreme sports , Felix Baumgartner, famous for his record-breaking leap from the edge of space, has been killed in a paragliding crash on Italy's Adriatic coast. He was 56 years old. Italian media quoted as saying, Baumgartner was piloting a motorised paraglider on Thursday afternoon over the Porto Sant'Elpidio in the Marche province when he lost control and hit a hotel swimming pool. The accident happened at around 4 p.m. local time. Firefighters and rescue personnel rushed to the location but Baumgartner was pronounced dead upon impact. Police in the area suspect he could have experienced a sudden medical condition in flight that made him lose control.

The crash also injured a hotel employee. According to reports, Baumgartner hit the woman during the crash landing. She received minor neck injuries and was rushed to a local hospital, but is said to be out of danger. Confirming the reports, Porto Sant'Elpidio Mayor Massimiliano Ciarpella stated that the town was "deeply moved" by Baumgartner's death. "He was an international icon, a symbol of strength and passion for the practice of extreme flight," Ciarpella posted on social media in a statement. Baumgartner's girlfriend, who accompanied him in the Italian village, has been notified of his death.

The Man Who Broke The Sound Barrier

Felix Baumgartner became an overnight international sensation on Oct. 14, 2012, when he jumped from a stratospheric balloon 39 kilometres into the air as part of Red Bull Stratos. Dressed in a pressurised suit, Baumgartner jumped from the capsule above Roswell, New Mexico, and hit a top speed of 1,343 km/h, the first skydiver to break the sound barrier. The record nine-minute fall shattered numerous world records, including the highest free-fall parachute jump and the highest manned balloon flight.

ALSO READ: Viral Video: Paraglider Crashes Shortly After Take-Off In Himachal, Gujarat Tourist Dies | Watch Video

A one-time Austrian army parachutist from Salzburg, Baumgartner started skydiving as a teenager and went on to become an international legend in the world of extreme sport. He took thousands of courageous leaps from planes, skyscrapers, and famous landmarks, such as Brazil's Christ the Redeemer statue and Malaysia's Petronas Towers. He also famously jumped from a plane while skydiving over the English Channel. In the past few years, Baumgartner amazed fans by acting as a helicopter stunt pilot for the Flying Bulls team throughout Europe.

ALSO READ: Dharamshala: Gujarat Tourist Dies After Paraglider Crashes Post Take-Off At Indru Nag Site

Famous for his bold character, Baumgartner was also not immune to controversy. He once made controversial political statements in favor of dictatorship as a state form and was fined 1,500 Euros for punching a truck driver during an altercation while participating in a road rage contest in 2010. But to many, he will be remembered as the man who literally touched the edge of space, and illustrated to the world the boundaries that human courage and technology can transcend. In speaking after his record jump in 2012, Baumgartner stated, "When I was standing there on top of the world, you become so humble. The only thing you want is to come back alive." His record-breaking achievement has remained an inspiration to scientists and adventurers alike. As he himself used to say, "Sometimes we have to get really high to see how small we are."