The sports world lost a true legend this past Thursday. Felix Baumgartner, the daring Austrian who once jumped from the edge of space, passed away at 56 years old. It’s a strange twist of fate for a man who famously defied gravity from incredible heights. The same thrill-seeker who once plummeted safely from the stratosphere met his end in a paragliding accident.
Italian news sources reported the tragic event occurred in Fermo, Italy. Specifically, it happened in the coastal town of Porto Sant Elpidio. Baumgartner was paragliding when he lost control of his craft. He fell into a swimming pool around 4 PM. During the incident, his paraglider also bumped into a woman. Thankfully, she was not hurt in the collision.
Baumgartner was a name that echoed in extreme sports circles. His most famous feat came on October 14, 2012. That day, he made history by becoming the first person to jump from nearly 40 kilometers up. He was also the first human to break the sound barrier during a freefall. He did this while wearing only a special pressurized suit. The Austrian adventurer reached an astonishing speed of 1342 kilometers per hour on that incredible dive.
Even after officially stepping back from extreme sports years ago, Baumgartner’s passion never faded. He often shared his adventures with fans on social media. In a poignant moment, he posted an Instagram Story just hours before his death. In it, he was complaining that it was too windy. That turned out to be his very last message to the world.