Felix Baumgartner, Record-Breaking Skydiver, Dies in Paragliding Crash in Italy at 56

Skydiver Felix Baumgartner talks during a news conference at the Windsor Atlantic Hotel during the 2013 Laureus World Sports Awards March 9, 2013, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Felix Baumgartner, the Austrian daredevil best known for his record-breaking skydive from the edge of space, died on Thursday in a tragic paragliding accident in Porto Sant’Elpidio, a coastal town in Italy’s Marche region. He was 56.

Baumgartner was flying a motorized paraglider when he reportedly suffered a sudden illness mid-air, causing him to crash into a hotel swimming pool. A hotel employee also sustained injuries during the accident and was transported to a nearby hospital.

Local officials confirmed the accident and Baumgartner’s passing. Massimiliano Ciarpella, the mayor of Porto Sant’Elpidio, paid tribute in a statement expressing the town’s condolences, calling Baumgartner “a figure of global significance” and “a symbol of courage and passion for extreme flight.”

In the days leading up to the crash, Baumgartner had shared multiple videos on Instagram of his paragliding adventures across Italy. His final post on Thursday included a photo of a windsock with the caption “too much wind,” which now resonates with tragic irony.

Born on April 20, 1969, in Salzburg, Austria, Baumgartner rose to global fame through his fearless exploits in extreme sports, including BASE jumping, skydiving, and paragliding. He reached the pinnacle of public recognition on October 14, 2012, when he ascended to an altitude of 127,852 feet above New Mexico in a helium balloon and made a historic jump back to Earth.

A file photograph taken during a practice flight July 30, 2003, shows Austrian skydiver Felix Baumgartner during free fall across the English Channel between Dover and Calais

That leap earned him three world records: the highest free fall, the highest manned balloon flight, and the first human to exceed the speed of sound without the aid of a vehicle. During the descent, he hit a peak speed of 843.6 mph—Mach 1.25—becoming supersonic in free fall.

According to his biography on Red Bull’s website, Baumgartner broke a total of 14 world records throughout his career, including the lowest BASE jump in history from the hand of the Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro in 2011.

A representative from Red Bull expressed deep sorrow over Baumgartner’s death, describing him as a determined and meticulous professional who was also generous with his time and inspiration. “Felix was ‘born to fly,’ and he never left anything to chance,” the statement read. “He will be deeply missed.”

Baumgartner’s death marks a heartbreaking end to a life defined by pushing the boundaries of human flight and daring. His legacy as a pioneer of extreme sports and aerial stunts continues to inspire adventurers worldwide.