Extreme sports icon Felix Baumgartner dies in paragliding tragedy, aged 56
Baumgartner — the 56-year-old extreme sports legend who rose to fame in 2012 when he skydived from the edge of space — was flying over a coastal town of Porto Sant'Elpidio in the Marche region, when he suddenly plunged to the ground.
On his way down he crashed into a woman and landed in a hotel swimming pool which was reportedly full of tourists.
He was pronounced dead at the scene and it is thought he had died before he hit the ground.
The local mayor, Massimiliano Ciarpella, said reports suggested he may have suffered a cardiac arrest mid-air.
The woman (a hotel staffer) he crashed into was reportedly injured in the incident, though her injuries are not considered life-threatening.
Baumgartner's wife, Mihaela Schwartzenberg, was holidaying in the area and was immediately called after the accident.
She reportedly rushed to the scene where bystanders and hotel staff had tried to revive her husband, without luck.
Only hours before the fatal paragliding crash, Baumgartner shared a photo on his Instagram from an airfield.
And the Austrian left a chilling message before he took off.
'Too much wind,' he said, but still he set off on the fatal adventure.
In October 2012, Baumgartner captured international attention when he leapt from a balloon 38km above Earth's surface, becoming the first person to skydive faster than the speed of sound, which is generally greater than 1100km/h.
The record-setting descent took place over Roswell, New Mexico, where he accelerated to more than 1343km/h.
Remarkably, this feat coincided with the 65th anniversary of American aviator Chuck Yeager's historic breaking of the sound barrier on October 14, 1947.
Baumgartner's quote after his skydiving feat is also famous.
'Sometimes we have to get really high to see how small we are,' he said.
Tributes have been flowing since news of his death sent shockwaves around the world.
Red Bull USA said: 'We are shocked and overwhelmed with sadness to hear the devastating news of our longtime friend Felix Baumgartner.
'Felix was 'born to fly' and was determined to push the limits.
'He was also smart, professional, thorough and meticulous, never leaving anything to chance. He was generous, giving much of his time to helping and inspiring so many people.'We remember Felix as a lovely person, devoted to his family and friends, to whom we send our heartfelt sympathy.'Felix, you will be deeply missed.'
Sports photographer Brian Nevins said: 'Honored to spend time with this legend. What an impact he made on people's imaginations of what's possible. Thanks for livin' the good life Felix, it was fun to be a small insignificant part of it.
A fan said: 'We have lost another Hero. Felix Baumgartner. Bravest man I ever met. Walked away from THIS. Taken from us today. Rest In The Stars, Felix.'
Ciarpella said on Facebook: 'Our community is deeply affected by the tragic disappearance of Felix Baumgartner, a figure of global prominence, a symbol of courage and passion for extreme flight.'
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