Austrian extreme athlete Felix Baumgartner, famous for his record-breaking skydive from the edge of space in 2012, has died in a powered paragliding crash in Italy.
According to Italian media, Baumgartner took off from Fermo on the Adriatic coast but lost control mid-flight and crashed near a hotel pool in Porto Sant’Elpidio. Despite first aid efforts, he could not be revived.
Eyewitnesses said he may have been unconscious before impact, possibly due to a heart attack. Local mayor Massimiliano Ciarpella said initial reports suggest a sudden health issue. Hours before the crash, Baumgartner had posted “Too much wind” on Instagram.