Latest news with #FearlessFelix
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Felix Baumgartner death details: What to know about paragliding accident that killed daredevil who 'jumped from space'
Famous skydiver and daredevil Felix Baumgartner died suddenly on Thursday in an accident while on vacation in Italy. The 56-year-old became famous over a decade ago when he broke world records as he jumped from space down to earth. He became one of the most famous skydivers in the world as a result and broke over a dozen world records over the course of his life and career. Here's more on Baumgartner's death and his famous skydiving stunt. 📲 Follow The Sporting News on WhatsApp How did Felix Baumgartner die? On Thursday, Baungertner died in a paragliding accident on the eastern coast of Italy, officials confirmed. He was 56 years old. Felix Baumgartner paragliding accident details According to officials, Baungartner was paragliding in Porto Sant'Elpidio when he lost control of his motorized paraglider and crashed into the side of a hotel swimming pool. According to The Washington Post, the mayor's office believes that Baumgartner suffered a "medical issue" during the accident. Who was Felix Baumgartner? Felix Baumgartner was an Austrian skydiver and daredevil who famously broke the sound barrier with his body in 2012. Nicknamed "Fearless Felix," Baumgartner was sponsored by Red Bull and performed many stunts over the course of his life. Baumgartner became a skydiver at 16 years old, but he joined the Austrian military as a parachutist before performing stunts in the late 90s. Overall, Baumgartner broke 14 records in his life and won several awards for his feats. "Felix has made 14 world records with his BASE jumps all over the planet, being a pioneer who has opened the path for all the skydivers around the world, for whom he is a great inspiration," the bio on Baumgartner's website read. Felix Baumgartner family Baumgartner was born in Salzburg, Austria to Eva and Felix Baumgartner. He had just one sibling, a brother named Gerard, who went on to become a chef. While Baumgartner never married, he had been with Romanian TV host Mihaela Radulescu for a long time. Felix Baumgartner jump from space In 2012, Baumgartner broke a world record when he successfully skydived from 24 miles above the ground. Baumgartner wore a pressurized suit and jumped from a capsule above Earth that was being held in space by a giant helium balloon. Baumgartner reached 843.6 mph, or 1.25 times the speed of sound, as he descended to earth for a nine-minute stretch before landing in New Mexico. He became the first person to break the sound barrier using just his body, while breaking several skydiving records in the process. "When I was standing there on top of the world, you become so humble, you do not think about of breaking records anymore, you do not think of about gaining scientific data. The only thing you want is to come back alive," Baumgartner said after landing. Baumgartner's record was broken two years later, when Alan Eustace free-fell from the stratosphere. Felix Baumgartner video Baumgartner's record-breaking jump was live-streamed throughout, as viewers were able to watch the daredevil execute the attempt.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Daredevil legend 'Fearless Felix' Baumgartner dies in paragliding accident at 56
Felix Baumgartner lived to leap, becoming the first person to fall faster than the speed of sound during a 24-mile skydiving adventure through the stratosphere in 2012. On Thursday, the Austrian daredevil died at age 56 while engaged in a far less intense activity, crashing into the side of a hotel swimming pool while paragliding in Porto Sant Elpidio, a town on central Italy's eastern coast. According to Sky Austria, he became ill before the crash. A hotel employee was hospitalized after sustaining injuries in the accident, the report stated. "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," Porto Sant Elpidio Mayor Massimiliano Ciarpella said on Facebook. The man known as "Fearless Felix" made history 13 years ago when he parachuted down to a landing near Roswell, N.M., after being lifted 24 miles above Earth into the stratosphere in a capsule carried by a helium balloon. He set a record for fastest free fall, descending 127,852 feet at 843.6 mph and becoming the first human to break the sound barrier without the assistance of a vehicle. Read more: Watch skydiver Felix Baumgartner break speed of sound As he exited his capsule and jumped into air that was 70 degrees below zero, Baumgartner gave a thumbs-up to onlookers watching a livestream online. He activated his parachute as he neared the ground. 'When I was standing there on top of the world, you become so humble, you do not think about breaking records anymore, you do not think of about gaining scientific data. The only thing you want is to come back alive,' he said after landing safely. 'Sometimes we have to get really high to see how small we are." Baumgartner's altitude record stood for two years until Google executive Alan Eustace set new marks for the highest free-fall jump and greatest free-fall distance. A former Austrian military parachutist, Baumgartner made numerous jumps from airplanes, skyscrapers and bridges. He also leaped from famed landmarks, including the Christ the Redeemer statue at the summit of Mount Corcovado in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Read more: Daredevil breaks world record with highest fall He once flew across the English Channel in a carbon fiber wing after being dropped from a plane. The daredevil also performed as a helicopter stunt pilot in shows across Europe. Baumgartner died while engaged in a more prosaic activity. Paragliders are lightweight, free-flying, foot-launched aircraft primarily used for recreation. The pilot sits suspended below a fabric wing. In a statement to Fox News Digital, a representative for Baumgartner's longtime sponsor Red Bull 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 help 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." Read more: Fall 24 miles to Earth with Felix Baumgartner in new space-jump video In an interview with Red Bull years ago, Baumgartner addressed his meticulous preparation before taking flight. "We had a very long list of 'what ifs,' in other words eventualities that could happen and how we would deal with them in an emergency," he said. "The list kept getting longer and longer. I was only afraid of the things that were not on the list, the things we had not thought of. To this day, I abort missions if the conditions are not right." Get the best, most interesting and strangest stories of the day from the L.A. sports scene and beyond from our newsletter The Sports Report. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Felix Baumgartner death details: What to know about paragliding accident that killed daredevil who 'jumped from space'
Famous skydiver and daredevil Felix Baumgartner died suddenly on Thursday in an accident while on vacation in Italy. The 56-year-old became famous over a decade ago when he broke world records as he jumped from space down to earth. He became one of the most famous skydivers in the world as a result and broke over a dozen world records over the course of his life and career. Here's more on Baumgartner's death and his famous skydiving stunt. 📲 Follow The Sporting News on WhatsApp How did Felix Baumgartner die? On Thursday, Baungertner died in a paragliding accident on the eastern coast of Italy, officials confirmed. He was 56 years old. Felix Baumgartner paragliding accident details According to officials, Baungartner was paragliding in Porto Sant'Elpidio when he lost control of his motorized paraglider and crashed into the side of a hotel swimming pool. According to The Washington Post, the mayor's office believes that Baumgartner suffered a "medical issue" during the accident. Who was Felix Baumgartner? Felix Baumgartner was an Austrian skydiver and daredevil who famously broke the sound barrier with his body in 2012. Nicknamed "Fearless Felix," Baumgartner was sponsored by Red Bull and performed many stunts over the course of his life. Baumgartner became a skydiver at 16 years old, but he joined the Austrian military as a parachutist before performing stunts in the late 90s. Overall, Baumgartner broke 14 records in his life and won several awards for his feats. "Felix has made 14 world records with his BASE jumps all over the planet, being a pioneer who has opened the path for all the skydivers around the world, for whom he is a great inspiration," the bio on Baumgartner's website read. Felix Baumgartner family Baumgartner was born in Salzburg, Austria to Eva and Felix Baumgartner. He had just one sibling, a brother named Gerard, who went on to become a chef. While Baumgartner never married, he had been with Romanian TV host Mihaela Radulescu for a long time. Felix Baumgartner jump from space In 2012, Baumgartner broke a world record when he successfully skydived from 24 miles above the ground. Baumgartner wore a pressurized suit and jumped from a capsule above Earth that was being held in space by a giant helium balloon. Baumgartner reached 843.6 mph, or 1.25 times the speed of sound, as he descended to earth for a nine-minute stretch before landing in New Mexico. He became the first person to break the sound barrier using just his body, while breaking several skydiving records in the process. "When I was standing there on top of the world, you become so humble, you do not think about of breaking records anymore, you do not think of about gaining scientific data. The only thing you want is to come back alive," Baumgartner said after landing. Baumgartner's record was broken two years later, when Alan Eustace free-fell from the stratosphere. Felix Baumgartner video Baumgartner's record-breaking jump was live-streamed throughout, as viewers were able to watch the daredevil execute the attempt.
New York Times
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- New York Times
Felix Baumgartner, Professional Daredevil, Dies Paragliding at 56
Felix Baumgartner, a professional daredevil and skydiver who fell faster than the speed of sound from the edge of space in 2012, died in a paragliding accident in Italy on Thursday, according to Red Bull, the company behind Mr. Baumgartner's extreme jumps. He was 56. Mr. Baumgartner crashed a few yards from a swimming pool in a tourist part of Porto Sant'Elpidio on Italy's Adriatic Coast, Massimiliano Ciarpella, the town's mayor, said on Friday morning. The cause of death was still unknown, Mr. Ciarpella said, but added that Mr. Baumgartner had become ill during his flight and had already lost consciousness by the time of impact. An autopsy will determine the exact cause of death, he said. Hours before his death on Thursday, Mr. Baumgartner posted a picture on Instagram of a scene showing gray cloudy skies and a billowing wind sock, with the words 'too much wind.' Mr. Baumgartner, a former Austrian paratrooper nicknamed 'Fearless Felix,' became the first person to break the sound barrier with his body on Oct. 14, 2012, when he jumped after ascending by giant helium balloon to an altitude of 128,100 feet over New Mexico in a project called 'Red Bull Stratos.' He reached a maximum speed of 833.9 miles per hour before he opened his parachute. It took Mr. Baumgartner four minutes and 20 seconds to safely land in the New Mexico desert. 'It was harder than I expected,' he said after the jump. 'When you stand up there on top of the world, you become so humble. It's not about breaking records any more. It's not about getting scientific data. It's all about coming home.' Millions of people watched Mr. Baumgartner's jump, which was broadcast on live television and streamed on YouTube. 'Felix was 'born to fly' and was determined to push the limits,' Red Bull said in the statement issued on his death. 'He was also smart, professional, thorough and meticulous, never leaving anything to chance.' Mr. Baumgartner started skydiving when he was 16. He joined the Austrian military's demonstration and competition team, where he developed his skills, according to his website, and began performing skydiving exhibitions for Red Bull in 1988. In the decades since, he completed thousands of extreme jumps, including BASE jumps and skydiving. He also became a professional helicopter pilot. 'Ever since I was a child,' he said in an interview on the Red Bull website, 'I have always wanted to jump out of a plane.' A full obituary will follow.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Skydiver Felix Baumgartner, who broke sound barrier in 2012, dead at 56 after paraglider crash
Skydiver, daredevil and extreme athlete Felix Baumgartner died Thursday. He was 56. The Austrian, who in 2012 became the first person to break the sound barrier with just his body, died in a paragliding crash in Italy. Firefighters at the scene said Baumgartner's paraglider crashed into the side of a pool in the city of Porto Sant'Elpidio, per the Associated Press. Baumgartner, who was known as "Fearless Felix," was most known for his 2012 sky-dive that broke the sound barrier. The stunt was part of the Red Bull Stratos project. Baumgartner partnered with the company in an attempt to record the highest sky-dive on record. In October of that year, he accomplished that feat. Wearing a pressurized suit, Baumgartner jumped from a capsule over 24 miles above the Earth. His jump measured 127,852 feet, a world record at the time. During his free fall, Baumgartner reached 843.6 mph, making him the first human to break the sound barrier outside a vehicle. In 2023, Baumgartner reflected on that accomplishment in a video posted on Red Bull's YouTube page. Red Bull released a statement Thursday, paying tribute to Baumgartner. A portion of that statement read: "You always sought out the greatest challenges and mastered them with sharp thinking, relentless precision and a good dose of courage. You delved deep into every project. No detail was too small, no risk too great – as long as you could calculate it. "We grew with you and you with us. We wouldn't trade a single day we had together. You will stay with us as a colleague, a loyal companion, but most of all as a friend. "Thank you, Felix. For everything." Baumgartner participated in a number of other stunts over his career. In 1999, he set the record for the lowest BASE jump after leaping from the hand of the Christ the Redeemer statue in Brazil. In 2007, he completed an unauthorized base jump from the Taipei 101 skyscraper in Taiwan. At the time, the Taipei 101 was the tallest building in the world.
