The sports world is in mourning, as the death of Austrian skydiver Felix Baumgartner has been reported. He lost his life at 56 years old, and now the latest details about how it happened have come to light.
Specifically, it has been revealed that he died in an accident while paragliding. All the details of this tragic accident have been provided, such as where and how it happened, given the importance of the victim. He was truly a legend in extreme sports.
Felix Baumgartner dies in paragliding accident in Italy
Felix Baumgartner became the most famous man of 2012 when he jumped into the void from the stratosphere, after ascending with a manned balloon. Today, however, his name is in the news for another reason. Specifically, because he died while paragliding in the Italian town of Porto Sant'Elpidio.
Media outlets such as La Reppublica and Il Resto del Carlino have now reported the latest on this tragic event. They have revealed that he was enjoying a vacation and, during it, was indulging in his passion: flying.
Apparently, Felix was paragliding in the afternoon on July 17. According to initial reports, he began to feel unwell mid-flight, which caused him to lose control of the paraglider. The descent ended tragically.
The skydiver fell onto the pool of a spa, where he injured a young woman who was in the swimming area. The woman received prompt medical attention and is out of danger, although the impact caused moments of great tension among those present. Meanwhile, he was left unconscious.
According to published reports, he suffered cardiac arrest shortly after the forced landing. Witnesses immediately alerted emergency services. A medical helicopter was dispatched to the area, but nothing could be done to save his life.
Italian police have opened an investigation to clarify the causes of the accident. Although a sudden medical problem is suspected, it is not ruled out that weather conditions may also have played a role.
Felix Baumgartner's legacy: from the stratospheric jump to the paragliding tragedy
Felix Baumgartner was born in Salzburg, Austria, on April 20, 1969. From a young age, he showed an exceptional interest in skydiving and aviation. After years of training, he achieved worldwide fame on October 14, 2012.
That day, he accomplished a feat that forever changed the history of extreme sports. He ascended to nearly 128,000 ft. (39,000 meters) in a manned balloon, then jumped into the void and broke the sound barrier in free fall. He was the first human to achieve this without mechanical assistance.
The jump made him a cult figure, but his career was not limited to that jump. Felix was also a pioneer in BASE jumps from iconic structures, such as Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro and the Millau Viaduct. His passion for flying was unbreakable.
In recent years, he had kept active in free flight activities, such as paragliding and hang gliding. Despite the passage of time, he continued to share images and videos from the heights. In his most recent posts, he appeared happy and energetic, enjoying the Italian landscape.
The fatal accident in Porto Sant'Elpidio has shocked the entire world. Skydiving colleagues, sports celebrities, and fans have flooded social media with messages of mourning. Everyone agrees on one thing: a legend is gone.
Today, the world remembers him as a pioneer of the sky. A man who lived intensely and died doing what he loved most: flying. His story will continue to inspire future generations who dream of conquering the limits of what is possible.