Felix Baumgartner, who skydived from space in the famous Red Bull Stratos stunt of 2012, has died in a paragliding accident in Italy.
The 56-year-old Austrian lost control of his paraglider while flying over Porto Sant’Elipido and crashed into a hotel swimming pool at the Le Mimose Holiday Village.
A female employee was struck in the incident and was sent to the hospital with minor injuries.
Porto Sant’Elipido’s mayor, Massimiliano Ciarpella, said reports suggest he may have suffered a sudden medical issue mid-air, causing the lack of control.
“Our community is deeply affected by the tragic disappearance of Felix Baumgartner, a figure of global prominence, a symbol of courage and passion for extreme flight," the mayor said in a social media post.
Not long before heading out to paraglide, Baumgartner posted to his Instagram story a picture of the paraglider, with the caption "Too much wind".
Baumgartner is best known for his dive from space, where he flew 39km above Earth in a giant helium balloon, before free-falling in a pressure suit and then parachuting to the ground.
He was the first person to ever break the sound barrier in freefall, and the event was live-streamed by eight million people on YouTube, making it the most concurrent views ever for a live event on the platform.
Red Bull issued a statement that read: “We are shocked and overwhelmed with sadness to hear the devastating news of our longtime friend Felix Baumgartner.”
They said he was “born to fly” and “determined to push the limits”, also describing him as “smart, professional, thorough, and meticulous”.
Our thoughts are with Baumgartner’s family.
