Felix Baumgartner, renowned for his record-setting skydiving feats, died tragically at the age of 56 after a crash into the side of a hotel pool. Born on April 20, 1969, in Salzburg, Austria, Baumgartner became a legendary figure in extreme sports. His fearless exploits earned him the dubious title “Fearless Felix”.
Baumgartner began his skydiving education when he was only 16. During his time as an athlete, he artfully yet determinedly stretched the boundaries of what’s possible in the sport. From the top of the Petronas Towers in Malaysia, he set the world record for the highest parachute jump ever made. In 2003, he became the first person to fly across the English Channel in a wingsuit. His fiery spirit led him to jump base from the 85-foot arm of the Christ the Redeemer statue in Brazil. That’s exactly the type of daring leap he took back in 2007.
In 2012, Baumgartner accomplished the impossible, as part of the Red Bull Stratos multimedia project. He jumped from an earth-shattering height of 24 miles above Earth and was traveling at speeds of just over 500 mph. This historic achievement established him as the first person to ever break the sound barrier on land and in any vehicle not inside an aircraft.
It’s something he said throughout his life and a recurring ambition throughout his career—to make the biggest impact in the deepest of ways.
“Since I was a little kid, I’ve always looked up to people who left a footprint on this planet,” he said.
His commitment to advancing skydiving led him to extend his skills as part of the Austrian military’s demonstration and competition team. In 1988, he began launching into Red Bull events by skydiving. This entrepreneurial push deepened his relationship with the company and its adventurous, daredevil attitude.
Beyond his physical achievements, Baumgartner participated in important discussions on international stages. He was received by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on the evening of October 23, 2012 at the United Nations headquarters in New York City. This meeting cemented his deep commitment to increasing global awareness.
Just hours before his tragic passing, he posted this photo on Instagram. The caption, “Wind too strong,” was his deep and abiding connection to the skydiving community, even from heaven.
“But now I think I have left a footprint,” Baumgartner once reflected on his legacy.
Baumgartner’s legacy on extreme sports will certainly be recorded as one wrought with audacity as much as inspiration. His many innovations to skydiving continue to make it accessible for explorers and thrill-seekers alike today.
