Felix Baumgartner's cause of death revealed after famed daredevil's paraglider crashed down into Italian resort - as report claims freak mid-air accident triggered plunge
Baumgartner, 56, tragically died at around 4pm local time on Thursday in Italy 's Porto Sant'Elpidio in the province of Fermo when a flight in a motorised paraglider took a fatal turn.
The Red Bull-sponsored athlete, who was holidaying with partner Michela Radulescu, flew over Italy's Adriatic coast and crashed into a swimming pool at the Le Mimose holiday camp.
Since his untimely death, Attorney General Raffaele Iannella, who is leading the investigation into Baumgartner's death, told BID that autopsies are currently being run on his body, located at the forensic medicine department of nearby Fermo hospital.
'What we know for sure so far: Baumgartner died on impact, his spine fractured in the lower part of his back, and his spinal cord was damaged', he said.
Local media has also reported that a freak mid-air accident may have triggered the drop.
Investigators reportedly believe that a camera attacked to Baumgartner's paraglider may have fallen into the propellor, causing it to break.
They are reportedly looking to gain access to the camera to get a full timeline of the crash.
For now, Italy's public prosecutor's office said it could take 40-5 days for any investigations to be completed.
It comes after partner Michela Radulesc shared chilling footage of her long-term partner just minutes before the tragic death, tragically adding that she filmed the video 'not knowing that this would be his last flight of his extraordinary life'.
Taking to X to post the somber video, Ms Radulescu said: 'For over 12 years I was there for every take off and landing, from skydiving, paragliding, helicopter flights, paramotor to aerobatic shows.
'And when I couldn't be there for some heli flights, we had the WLC code - 'the Wifey Landing Call'. Never missed one. Except …this one.'
Describing her partner as 'truly special', she added that he was 'going home now, up there, where he was the happiest ever'.
The 55-year-old also thanked the public for both their support and also for helping to 'keep his unique legacy high up'.
Baumgartner gained international recognition in 2012 after he leapt from the edge of space in the world's most extreme skydive.
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