The world mourns the loss of legendary extreme athlete Felix Baumgartner, who captured global attention in 2012 by skydiving from the edge of space. The 55-year-old daredevil has tragically died following a motorised paraglider crash in Italy.
According to local reports, the accident occurred over Porto Sant’Elpidio, a coastal town in the Marche region. Baumgartner reportedly lost control mid-flight and crashed near a hotel swimming pool. The cause of the crash remains under investigation, and emergency services pronounced him dead at the scene.
Baumgartner etched his name in history on October 14, 2012, when he jumped from a helium balloon 39 kilometers (24 miles) above Earth, becoming the first human to break the sound barrier in free fall and setting multiple Guinness World Records.
In a statement, Guinness World Records said it was “devastated” by the news and honored Baumgartner as “a fearless pioneer who inspired millions through the power of human potential.”
Tributes have been pouring in from fans, fellow adventurers, and public figures around the world who hailed him as a modern-day icon of courage and adventure.
Felix Baumgartner’s legacy will live on in the skies he so fearlessly conquered.
