Austrian extreme sports athlete Felix Baumgartner perished Thursday following a paragliding mishap in Italy's Marche region. The 56-year-old adventurer suffered a medical emergency while operating a motorized paraglider near Porto Sant'Elpidio during a family vacation. Emergency crews rushed to Le Mimose holiday village after Baumgartner struck a wooden structure beside a swimming pool. Medical personnel declared him dead before helicopter transport could occur. A hotel worker sustained injuries from crash debris but avoided life-threatening harm.
Baumgartner achieved global recognition through his 2012 stratospheric leap from 24 miles above Earth. The Red Bull Stratos mission made him the first person to surpass the speed of sound during free fall at 843.6 mph. Millions watched the historic jump live as he descended over New Mexico. BASE jumping expertise also distinguished his career through leaps from buildings, antennas, bridges, and cliffs. His partner witnessed the fatal acciden,t according to Austrian news sources.
Baumgartner achieved global recognition through his 2012 stratospheric leap from 24 miles above Earth. The Red Bull Stratos mission made him the first person to surpass the speed of sound during free fall at 843.6 mph. Millions watched the historic jump live as he descended over New Mexico. BASE jumping expertise also distinguished his career through leaps from buildings, antennas, bridges, and cliffs. His partner witnessed the fatal acciden,t according to Austrian news sources.
