Felix Baumgartner, the Austrian extreme sports icon known for his supersonic space jump, died Thursday in a paragliding accident in the coastal city of Porto Sant’Elpidio. He was 56.
According to local authorities, Baumgartner crashed into the side of a hotel swimming pool during a paragliding stunt. During the fall, his gear struck a woman, though she escaped with no serious injuries. The cause of the crash remains under investigation.
The mayor of Porto Sant’Elpidio expressed condolences, calling Baumgartner’s death a profound loss for the global sports community.
Baumgartner rose to international fame in 2012 when he jumped from the edge of space, becoming the first skydiver to break the sound barrier in freefall. Over his decades-long career, he performed thousands of jumps from aircraft, landmarks, and skyscrapers, earning global respect for his daring feats and meticulous preparation.
Tributes continue to pour in from across the world for the man often hailed as one of the greatest daredevils in history.
