Felix Baumgartner, the Austrian daredevil who made history in 2012 by becoming the first person to break the sound barrier during a freefall, has died at age 56 in a paragliding accident in Italy.
Idman.biz, citing Euronews, reports that the crash occurred in Porto Sant'Elpidio, where his paraglider reportedly came down in a swimming pool. Local reports indicate he may have suffered cardiac arrest mid-air.
Baumgartner rose to global fame when he leapt from a capsule 24 miles above Earth as part of the Red Bull Stratos project, reaching a speed of 843.6 mph during a dramatic nine-minute descent. The jump broke several records and was watched live by millions worldwide.
Known for pushing the limits, the former Austrian military parachutist made thousands of jumps and even flew across the English Channel using a carbon wing. In recent years, he performed helicopter stunts with The Flying Bulls.
Baumgartner's death marks the loss of a pioneer who redefined human boundaries in flight and skydiving.
Idman.biz
