Austrian skydiver Felix Baumgartner, 56, who set multiple records for jumping from the stratosphere, died while paragliding in Italy on Thursday. Baumgartner lost control of his paraglider and crashed into a hotel swimming pool, injuring a woman but leaving her seriously hurt. Authorities are investigating the cause of the crash.
Baumgartner was known for his record-breaking jumps, including one where he broke the sound barrier by skydiving from 24 miles above the ground in 2012. He described the experience as feeling like being “standing on top of the world.” The Red Bull team that sponsored his feat released a statement saying they were “shocked and overwhelmed with sadness” by Baumgartner’s death.
Baumgartner achieved international recognition for his daredevil stunts, including jumping from landmarks in Malaysia and Rio de Janeiro. He spent six years planning his record-breaking jump, which reached speeds of over 840 mph. The Red Bull Stratos freefall was a massive undertaking that required constructing a helium balloon the size of 33 football pitches to reach the stratosphere.
Baumgartner’s mental fortitude was seen as the biggest challenge in the project, with the suit requiring both pressurization and protection from extreme temperatures. He described the experience as “very uncomfortable” and struggling to process his emotions after landing. Baumgartner’s death has left his community in Italy deeply affected, with the mayor describing him as a “symbol of courage.”
Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2025/07/17/sport/felix-baumgartner-dies-in-paragliding-crash-spt