Austrian Skydiver Felix Baumgartner Dies in Paragliding Crash in Italy at 56

Felix Baumgartner, a renowned Austrian skydiver, has died in a paragliding crash in Italy at the age of 56. Baumgartner, who gained international recognition for his record-breaking supersonic jump from the stratosphere in 2012, lost control of his paraglider mid-air and crashed near a hotel pool. The cause of the accident is currently under investigation.

Extreme athlete Felix Baumgartner, who gained international fame for his record-breaking supersonic jump from the stratosphere in 2012, has died in a paragliding crash in Italy at the age of 56. The incident occurred near the Adriatic coast in Porto Sant’Elpidio, where Baumgartner lost control of his paraglider mid-air and crashed near a hotel pool. The cause of the accident is currently under investigation.

Baumgartner, known as "Fearless Felix," was part of the Red Bull Stratos team and became the first human to break the sound barrier with only his body in 2012. He jumped from a capsule hoisted more than 24 miles above Earth by a helium balloon over New Mexico, reaching a peak speed of over 833 mph. The Austrian was also known for his daredevil jumps from planes, bridges, skyscrapers, and landmarks, including the Christ the Redeemer statue in Brazil.

Witnesses reported that Baumgartner was taking off from a nearby airfield when he lost control of his paraglider. A 30-year-old mother and her two young children watched as the paraglider spun out of control and crashed near the swimming pool of the Le Mimose Family Camping Village. No guests were injured, but a female hotel employee was injured by a piece of debris and taken to the hospital with neck injuries.

The Italian mayor of Porto Sant’Elpidio, Massimiliano Ciarpella, confirmed Baumgartner’s death and offered condolences to his family and the global community. He stated, "It is a destiny that is very hard to comprehend for a man who has broken all kinds of records, who has been an icon of flight, and who traveled through space." Ciarpella suggested that Baumgartner may have suffered a sudden medical issue mid-air.

Red Bull, which sponsored Baumgartner’s record-breaking jump, paid tribute to him in a post, calling him "precise, demanding, and critical." The statement highlighted Baumgartner’s research and courage in confronting the greatest challenges.

Baumgartner’s social media feed featured videos of him flying on a motorized paraglider in recent days, and he had posted an image on Instagram just hours before the accident with the caption "too much wind."

Investigators are currently looking into the circumstances surrounding the accident. The Italian fire brigade and the Foreign Ministry in Vienna have confirmed the accident. Baumgartner’s body was taken to the hospital in Ascoli Piceno for an autopsy.

References:
[1] https://apnews.com/article/felix-baumgartner-death-paragliding-skydiver-40aee076396adceffdd322d4105af0e4
[2] https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/2025/07/18/felix-baumgartner-dies-paragliding-accident-italy/85268128007/
[3] https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2025/07/17/extreme-athlete-felix-baumgartner-dies-in-paragliding-accident
[4] https://www.aljazeera.com/sports/2025/7/17/felix-baumgartner-extreme-athlete-dies-in-paragliding-crash-in-italy