The world of extreme sports is mourning the loss of Austrian daredevil Felix Baumgartner, who died Thursday at the age of 56 following a paragliding accident in Italy. Multiple news outlets are reporting his passing.
According to the Italian news agency ANSA, the incident occurred in Porto Sant’Elpidio, Italy, where Baumgartner reportedly lost control of his paraglider and crashed into a swimming pool within a residential complex. A young girl sustained injuries as a result of the incident.
Baumgartner achieved international fame for his breathtaking BASE jumps from iconic structures, including the Millau Viaduct and the Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro. He etched his name in the record books in 2012 with a stratospheric jump that shattered previous limits. That historic leap from a height of nearly 39 kilometers (24 miles) marked the highest parachute jump ever undertaken and the deepest freefall achieved. During the jump, he reached a peak velocity of 1,357 kilometers per hour (843 miles per hour) without the use of a stabilizing parachute.
His legacy as a pioneer in extreme sports is undeniable, inspiring awe and pushing the boundaries of human possibility.