logo
Daredevil space diver Felix Baumgartner dies in paragliding accident

Daredevil space diver Felix Baumgartner dies in paragliding accident

Khaleej Times18-07-2025
Austrian extreme sports pioneer Felix Baumgartner, famed for a record-breaking 2012 skydive from the edge of space, died on Thursday in a paragliding accident in central Italy, local police said. He was 56.
Baumgartner lost control of his motorised paraglider while flying over Porto Sant'Elpidio in Italy's central Marche region, and fell to the ground near the swimming pool of a hotel. The reasons for the accident were unclear.
Porto Sant'Elpidio's mayor, Massimiliano Ciarpella, said reports suggested he may have suffered a sudden medical issue mid-air, and offered the town's condolences for the death of "a symbol of courage and passion for extreme flights."
The Austrian made headlines around the world in October 2012 when, wearing a specially made suit, he jumped from a balloon 24 miles (38 km) above Earth, becoming the first skydiver to break the sound barrier, typically measured at more than 690 mph.
He made the historic jump over Roswell, New Mexico, reaching a peak speed of over 833 mph (1,343 kph), on the 65th anniversary of legendary American pilot Chuck Yeager's flight shattering the sound barrier on October 14, 1947.
The self-styled "God of the Skies" started parachuting as a teenager before taking up the extreme sport of BASE jumping.
His long career of daredevil jumps included skydiving across the English Channel and parachuting off the Petronas Towers in Malaysia.
In Austria he was also known for courting controversy with views that included expressing support for dictatorship as a system of government.
Baumgartner was fined 1,500 euros after he punched a Greek truck driver in the face during a 2010 altercation that broke out in a traffic jam near Salzburg.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Sheikh Mohammed bin Maktoum joins PFL global ownership group
Sheikh Mohammed bin Maktoum joins PFL global ownership group

The National

time2 days ago

  • The National

Sheikh Mohammed bin Maktoum joins PFL global ownership group

The Professional Fighters League has strengthened its ties with Dubai after announcing Sheikh Mohammed bin Maktoum has joined the promotion's global ownership group. In a statement, the PFL said the latest announcement fortifies the PFL's commitment to expanding its presence in the Middle East and supporting the growth of mixed martial arts across the UAE and the region. 'I am delighted to join the PFL's ownership group as I believe in PFL's global vision to grow the sport of MMA,' Sheikh Mohammed bin Maktoum said in a press release. 'I am excited by PFL's momentum in staging world-class fight events in Dubai and the UAE region.' Sheikh Mohammed bin Maktoum is chairman of Alpha MBM Investments, a diversified investment company based in Dubai with strategic interests across real estate, technology, energy, and sports. The PFL made headlines earlier this year by h osting a landmark event in Dubai, the first of its kind by a global MMA organisation, in partnership with Dubai Economy & Tourism and the Dubai Sports Council. The card was headlined by a thrilling title bout between Russia's Usman Magomedov and Irishman Paul Hughes. PFL International CEO Peter Murray hailed the new partnership: 'Welcoming Sheikh Mohammed to our ownership group is a major milestone. His leadership and expertise reinforce our commitment to the region and will help us further elevate MMA across the Middle East.' The PFL Mena series, now in its second season, continues to unearth regional talent such as champions Abdullah Al Qahtani, Omar El Dafrawy, and trailblazing women's star Hattan Alsaif. In April, Zamzam Al Hammadi, 17, became the first female Emirati to join a lead MMA promotion when she signed with the PFL. The third event of the ongoing PFL Mena season is set to take place in September.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Maktoum bin Juma joins PFL global ownership group
Sheikh Mohammed bin Maktoum bin Juma joins PFL global ownership group

The National

time2 days ago

  • The National

Sheikh Mohammed bin Maktoum bin Juma joins PFL global ownership group

The Professional Fighters League has strengthened its ties with Dubai after announcing Sheikh Mohammed bin Maktoum bin Juma has joined the promotion's global ownership group. In a statement, the PFL said the latest announcement fortifies the PFL's commitment to expanding its presence in the Middle East and supporting the growth of mixed martial arts across the UAE and the region. 'I am delighted to join the PFL's ownership group as I believe in PFL's global vision to grow the sport of MMA,' Sheikh Mohammed bin Maktoum said in a press release. 'I am excited by PFL's momentum in staging world-class fight events in Dubai and the UAE region.' Sheikh Mohammed bin Maktoum is chairman of Alpha MBM Investments, a diversified investment company based in Dubai with strategic interests across real estate, technology, energy, and sports. The PFL made headlines earlier this year by h osting a landmark event in Dubai, the first of its kind by a global MMA organisation, in partnership with Dubai Economy & Tourism and the Dubai Sports Council. The card was headlined by a thrilling title bout between Russia's Usman Magomedov and Irishman Paul Hughes. PFL International CEO Peter Murray hailed the new partnership: 'Welcoming Sheikh Mohammed to our ownership group is a major milestone. His leadership and expertise reinforce our commitment to the region and will help us further elevate MMA across the Middle East.' The PFL Mena series, now in its second season, continues to unearth regional talent such as champions Abdullah Al Qahtani, Omar El Dafrawy, and trailblazing women's star Hattan Alsaif. In April, Zamzam Al Hammadi, 17, became the first female Emirati to join a lead MMA promotion when she signed with the PFL. The third event of the ongoing PFL Mena season is set to take place in September.

UAE Lottery announces two new games with top prizes of Dh500,000
UAE Lottery announces two new games with top prizes of Dh500,000

The National

time2 days ago

  • The National

UAE Lottery announces two new games with top prizes of Dh500,000

The UAE Lottery has launched two games, called Gemstone Riches and Sports Mania, each with top prizes of Dh500,000 available. The games are live on the UAE Lottery website under the E-instants category, and will be regulated by the General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority. In Gemstone Riches, players match their numbers to the lucky numbers to win the corresponding prize, with multiple chances to win on a single ticket. The game also features a bonus round unlocked by revealing five gemstone bonus symbols, in which players select four gems to win more prizes. There are 196 prize tiers, with entry prices ranging from Dh2 to Dh50 and top rewards of up to Dh500,000. Sports Mania offers 41 prize tiers and a multiplier feature. Players choose their ticket price and reveal their symbols. They win when their symbols match both the image and the quantity shown at the top. A multiplier of up to 50 can be applied to boost the player's total final winnings. Ticket prices range from Dh2 to Dh50, with prizes up to Dh500,000. Last month saw the launch of two other games, Marble Run and Lucky Lagoon. 'We're building on the momentum of our E-Instant portfolio and continuing to expand the variety and quality of our digital game offerings,' Bishop Woosley, director of lottery operations at The Game LLC, said. 'These new titles introduce simple, interactive formats and creative themes that align with our focus on safe, accessible, and engaging gameplay.' What is the UAE Lottery? Launched last year, the UAE Lottery is the only federally licensed lottery regulated by the General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority. Every fortnight, it gives residents the chance to win a Dh100 million jackpot, along with other cash prizes ranging from Dh100 to Dh1 million. It also offers scratch cards with prizes of up to Dh1 million. The authorised lottery was the result of a major government drive to overhaul the UAE's commercial gaming sector. The regulatory authority was established in September 2023 to shape a 'world-leading regulatory framework for a national lottery and commercial gaming'. Independent lottery operators were directed to pause their activities in January last year. The licence for the national lottery was awarded in July to Game LLC under the banner of the UAE Lottery. What is commercial gaming? According to the regulatory authority's website, it is the only organisation that can regulate, license and supervise commercial gaming activities and centres within the UAE. This covers lottery, internet gaming, sports wagering and land-based integrated gaming centres or resorts. 'Commercial gaming' refers to 'any game of chance, or combination of chance and skill, where an amount of money, in cash or cash equivalents, is wagered – placed as a bet – for the purpose of winning a sum of money or other valuable items'.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store