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The Sun
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Felix Baumgartner's widow shares footage of fatal paraglider flight as she pays tribute to ‘truly special' partner
FELIX Baumgartner's grieving partner has shared footage of the daredevil's doomed final paragliding flight. The Austrian athlete, 56, most famous for jumping to Earth from the edge of space 2012, tragically lost his life in an accident while on holiday in Porto Sant'Elpidio, Italy, last week. 5 5 5 5 His partner, Michela Radulescu, revealed how she held his hand in his dying moments - after he suffered a suspected cardiac arrest midair and crashed into a hotel swimming pool. A clip shared by his grieving wife shows the moment the adrenaline junkie took off from a field to begin the flight. Wearing shorts and a crash helmet, Felix fires up his propeller pack and runs across the grass - as he had done so many times. The sail fills with air and lifts him up from the ground. Felix soars high into the sky against a cloudless blue sky, getting smaller and smaller. Michela, 55, a Romanian TV presenter, said she watched him disappear, "not knowing that this would be his last flight of his extraordinary life". In a heartbreaking video posted to X, Michela says: "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." She said that her "truly special" was "going home now, up there, where he was the happiest ever". Describing the moment she lost Felix, Michela said: "He died doing what he loved the most - flying - in a happy place we came for the third time, with me holding his hands and shouting at him to FIGHT. The first fight he lost… Skydiver famous for space jump dies in paragliding tragedy after crashing into pool "Keep telling his story, specially to your kids - in a world full of Dreamers, teach them about the Dreamer who made all his dreams come true, working damn hard for every single one of them." The Red Bull-sponsored athlete became a household name when he jumped to Earth from a space helium balloon in 2012. He set world records for skydiving an estimated 24 miles and reaching an estimated top speed of Mach 1.25 (843.6mph). The stunt also made him the first person ever to break the sound barrier without vehicular power. His own tragic final Instagram post also documented the preparation for the flight. Felix had been flying in a motored paraglider when he is believed to have suffered a "sudden onset of illness." This caused him to lose control, with Baumgartner's glider crashing to the ground and into a hotel swimming pool. He was reportedly killed instantly in the tragic accident. Meanwhile, a hotel employee was also injured during Baumgartner's fall. They were said to be struck by the paraglider as it hit the ground. 5
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Felix Baumgartner's heartbroken widow shares footage of him taking off on doomed paraglider flight - as she reveals how she held daredevil's hand as he lost battle for life
The heartbroken partner of daredevil Felix Baumgartner has shared footage of him taking off on the doomed paraglider flight, revealing how she held his hand as he battled for his life. 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 in Fermo with partner Michela Radulescu, is thought to have suffered a medical crisis in mid air as he flew over Porto Sant'Elpidio on Italy's Adriatic coast and crashed into a swimming pool at the Le Mimose holiday camp. Now, Ms Radulescu, a Romanian TV presenter, has 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'. The Red Bull-sponsored athlete, who was holidaying in Fermo with partner Michela Radulescu, is thought to have suffered a medical crisis in mid air as he flew over Porto Sant'Elpidio on Italy's Adriatic coast and crashed into a swimming pool at the Le Mimose holiday camp Baumgartner, who gained international recognition in 2012 after he leapt from the edge of space in the world's most extreme skydive, is understood to have lost control of the powered hang glider as he soared over the coast. While emergency responders quickly descended on Le Mimose and attempted to resuscitate Baumgartner, he was pronounced dead before the arrival of an air ambulance. The circumstances and cause of his death are still being investigated, with a post-mortem examination currently underway. Following the fatal crash, horrified tourists and staff at Le Mimose del Club del Sole holiday village were seen crowding Baumgartner as he lay poolside in images courtesy of Corriere Adriatico, the daily newspaper of the Marche region. Some appeared to be on their knees administering first aid as staff members hurried a spinal board to the scene, fearing the skydiver may have suffered severe injuries. A bystander who saw Baumgartner approaching the deck told Correiere della Sera: I was here on the beach, I turned towards Le Mimose and I saw this paraglider fall suddenly. I thought he was going to land, but instead he fell really quickly.' An employee at Le Mimose was also injured, reportedly by a piece of debris that struck her when Baumgartner crashed into the wooden hut by the pool. She was taken to hospital for treatment but Le Mimose later told MailOnline she was in good health. In a touching tribute to her beloved partner, Ms Radulescu, who had been with Baumgartner since 2014, said that he had 'died doing what he loved the most – flying'. She also thanked emergency services for doing their best to save him following the tragic incident, alongside members of the public who did 'EVERYTHING for him and for me here, in Italy'. Ms Radulescu wrote:' For the World, a Legend who inspired so many and achieved so much… 'For his friends and family, the most loved and admired, the most positive, respectful, full of life and joy kid, and the most focused and organized adult when working on anything. 'For his fans, the Hero always smiling back to them, always having time for them, always happy to feel their love. 'For me… the man who loved me like crazy for 13 years, the extraordinary man I loved beyond words, the REAL MAN I respected and had the best time of my life with. And this is an understatement. Ms Radulescu added that she, alongside everyone 'blessed to have him in our lives', had been left feeling 'lost' without Baumgartner. She continued: 'He died doing what he loved the most - flying - in a happy place we came for the third time, with me holding his hands and shouting at him to FIGHT. The first fight he lost…' 'Keep telling his story, specially to your kids - in a world full of Dreamers, teach them about the Dreamer who made all his dreams come true, working damn hard for every single one of them. 'Thank you to everyone who payed (sic) respect and showed support for me and his Mom and Dad, for his family and our real good friends. 'I wrote this for him. Pay your respect for FELIX. This unique man deserves the best of all our hearts, thoughts and prayers….' Ms Radulescu, who was away on holiday with Baumgartner at the time of the incident, was immediately informed of his death and rushed to the scene. Shortly before his sudden passing, the sports star posted a video on his social media alongside the caption: 'Too much wind.' It showed him paragliding in circles over a field, completely unaware of the tragedy that was about to strike. Baumgartner is also said to have complained that he was feeling ill prior to take-off over Fermo, in Italy's Marche region. Confirming his death, local mayor, Massimiliano Ciarpella said: '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.' Just days prior to his accident, the Austrian daredevil had posted a selfie almost directly above where he died. An employee at Le Mimose was also injured, reportedly by a piece of debris that struck her when Baumgartner crashed into the wooden hut by the pool. She was taken to hospital for treatment but Le Mimose later told MailOnline she was in good health He posed in his motorised paraglider, with the coastline below. Chillingly, the properties in the photo are less than two miles from where Baumgarnter plummeted to the ground. An accomplished skydiver and sports sensation, Baumgarnter was internationally known for his spectacular jumps. He became particularly famous in 2012 with a jump from the stratosphere in which he set three world records. On October 14 2012, millions of people globally tuned in to watch Baumgartner jump from the edge of space, armed only with a pressure suit, a parachute, and nerves of steel. He fell to Earth for more than four minutes, during which time he reached dizzying speeds of 843.6mph and broke the sound barrier, before opening his parachute and safely gliding down to land in New Mexico. Speaking to MailOnline in 2022, he said: 'As a skydiver, you always want to push the envelope. Austrian skydiver Felix Baumgartner is seen after jumping from a transport plane above Dover at the start of his freefall across the English Channel between Dover and Calais, July 31, 2003 'What Joe accomplished in the 1960s after only 33 skydives – this is what I call a true pioneer. 'And I had a couple thousand skydives under my belt. 'You're always thinking, what more can I do? Go faster? Go higher? It's always floating out there.' In 1988, Baumgarnter began collaborating with the Red Bull brand, and from the 1990s onwards, he also tried his hand at base jumping, leaping from skyscrapers, natural features, and bridges. He set several records and 14 world records: In 1999, the Austrian was the first to jump from the Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and from the Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Yahoo
2 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.
The Guardian
3 days ago
- Sport
- The Guardian
Felix Baumgartner: the man who skydived from space
The Austrian extreme sports pioneer Felix Baumgartner, known for his record-breaking 2012 skydive from the edge of space, has died in a paragliding accident in central Italy, police have said. Baumgartner, 56, lost control of his motorised paraglider while flying over Porto Sant'Elpidio in Marche on Thursday. He fell to the ground near the swimming pool of a hotel. The cause of the accident remains unclear
Yahoo
3 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.
