Skydive Pioneer Felix Baumgartner, Who Jumped From Edge Of Space, Dies In Paragliding Accident

Austrian utmost sports pioneer Felix Baumgartner, famed for a record-breaking 2012 skydive from nan separator of space, has died successful a paragliding mishap successful cardinal Italy, section constabulary said.

Baumgartner, who was 56, mislaid power of his motorised paraglider while flying complete Porto Sant’Elpidio successful Italy’s cardinal Marche region connected Thursday and fell to nan crushed adjacent nan swimming excavation of a hotel. The reasons for nan mishap were unclear.

Porto Sant’Elpidio’s mayor, Massimiliano Ciarpella, said reports suggested he whitethorn person suffered a abrupt aesculapian rumor midair, and offered nan town’s condolences for nan decease of “a awesome of courageousness and passion for utmost flights”.

The Austrian made headlines astir nan world successful October 2012 when, wearing a specially made suit, he jumped from a balloon 38km (24 miles) supra Earth, becoming nan first skydiver to break nan sound barrier, typically measured astatine much than 1,110km/h (690 mph).

He made nan historical jump complete Roswell, New Mexico, reaching a highest velocity of much than 1,343km/h, connected nan 65th day of legendary American aviator Chuck Yeager’s formation shattering nan sound obstruction connected 14 October 1947.

The self-styled “God of nan Skies” started parachuting arsenic a teen earlier taking up nan utmost athletics of Base jumping.

His agelong profession of daredevil jumps included skydiving crossed nan English Channel and parachuting disconnected nan Petronas Towers successful Malaysia.

In Austria he was besides known for courting contention pinch views that included expressing support for dictatorship arsenic a strategy of government.

Baumgartner was fined €1,500 aft he punched a Greek motortruck driver successful nan look during a 2010 altercation that collapsed retired successful a postulation jam adjacent Salzburg.