Who is Felix Baumgartner? Skydiver who tragically died in a paragliding crash in Italy
On Thursday, July 17, 2025, the extreme sports community was stunned. Felix Baumgartner, the Austrian skydiver famed for his 2012 supersonic jump, tragically died in a paragliding accident in Porto Sant'Elpidio, Italy.
The world mourns a legendary figure whose bold feats captured imaginations, including breaking the sound barrier in free fall.
Felix Baumgartner dies in paragliding crash in Porto Sant'Elpidio
Flying a powered paraglider, Felix Baumgartner, 56, departed Porto Sant'Elpidio around 4 pm local time. On Instagram, he pointed out
"too much wind"
before the flight. Witnesses say he lost control mid-air and landed in a hotel pool at Le Mimose. Local media sources and Reuters claim he may have experienced a sudden medical issue, maybe cardiac arrest, before impact.
— nypost (@nypost)
Unfortunately, he was pronounced dead at the location. Though hurt, a hotel employee's cuts were only little. On behalf of Porto Sant'Elpidio, Mayor Massimiliano Ciarpella expressed profound grief, noting that the town lost "a symbol of courage and passion for extreme flight.'
Felix Baumgartner's legacy lives on in adventure sports history
Famous globally as "Fearless Felix," Baumgartner ascended to popularity in 2012 with his aerial leap. Reaching speeds of over 1,343 km/h, breaking the sound barrier without any vehicle, he leapt from nearly 39 km (24 miles) above New Mexico.
Live television to millieds worldwide showed that famous moment breaking several records.
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He challenged boundaries during his career with carbon-fibre wing suit flights across the English Channel, BASE jumps from the Petronas Towers and Christ the Redeemer in Brazil. With the Flying Bulls, he was also a stunt pilot and kept relating his aerial exploits till his last days.
Confirming his death, Red Bull, who supported his record-breaking achievements, tributes poured in all around from sponsors, admirers, and fellow sportsmen.
His courageous approach inspired several people with hope and amazement, and his death profoundly shocked the extreme sports community.
Felix Baumgartner's last flight brings sharply to mind the beauty and risk of human ambition. Few others dared to soar, once to the brink of space, and we now bid adieu to an exceptional pioneer whose legacy will keep inspiring bravery across generations.
Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
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