Felix Baumgartner, the extreme athlete and daredevil made famous for jumping from the edge of space. Tragically, he passed away in a paragliding accident in Italy on Thursday. He was 56 years old. His death was confirmed by Red Bull late Thursday. The energy drink company had funded all of his death defying stunts during his stellar career.
Born in Salzburg, Austria. In 2012, he became an international sensation when he parachuted in freefall from a record altitude of 39 kilometers (24 miles) at the extreme limit of space as part of the Red Bull Stratos project. With this astonishing feat, he further cemented himself as a pioneer of extreme sports. In the process, it made him three world records richer. He achieved a truly incredible top speed of 1,357.6 kilometers per hour (834 mph). With this successful feat, he not only broke the sound barrier in free fall for the first time, but became the highest person to jump and the longest free fall.
A Legacy of Daring Feats
Baumgartner’s exploration of the extreme sports world started at the tender age of 16, when he made his first parachute jump. Fueled by his desire to pursue skydiving, he joined the parachute regiment of the Austrian Army. There, he honed his craft even further. In the process, he gained recognition over the years for some of his ground-breaking achievements.
In 1999, he became the world record-holder for tallest base jump from a building. He made the jump from atop the Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. That same year, he amazed the world in what was quite possibly the most stunning base jump ever. He jumped off of the Brazilian statue of Christ the Redeemer. His reputation soared as he turned to base jumping in the late 1990s, capturing the attention and admiration of fans worldwide.
On July 31, Baumgartner went viral, becoming the first person to cross the English Channel in free fall. He leapt from an experimental aircraft outfitted with cutting-edge carbon fiber wings. Each of his pursuits stretched the boundaries of what was possible and inspired people around the world.
Final Moments and Community Reaction
Only two hours before his final crash, Baumgartner took to Instagram with an ominous post about the upcoming jump, writing simply “lots of wind.” This post, along with the announcement of his tragic accident this morning, has many of us in shock and mourning.
Baumgartner’s legacy will surely be felt through his incredible contributions to extreme sports. His indomitable spirit has inspired millions—including me—to pursue the dream of beating the odds to become champions.
“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.”
Baumgartner’s legacy will undoubtedly live on through his remarkable contributions to extreme sports and his indomitable spirit that inspired countless others to pursue their dreams.