Felix Baumgartner, the famous Austrian who gained worldwide fame in 2012 after jumping from the stratosphere, died this Thursday, July 17. The athlete’s death was confirmed by his family. Here is everything we know about his passing.
How did Felix Baumgartner die?
According to reports, Baumgartner suffered a paragliding accident in Porto Sant’Elpidio, Italy, where he was vacationing. Around 4:00 p.m. local time, the athlete was flying along the Adriatic coast when he suddenly began to feel unwell, causing him to lose control of the glider and plummet in a free fall.
The impact occurred in a hotel pool, where he struck a woman who was injured in the incident. She was assisted by paramedics and taken to a hospital, where her condition is reported to be stable. As for Baumgartner, reports indicate that he was already deceased at the time of the impact.
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How old was Felix Baumgartner?
At the time of his death, the athlete was 56 years old.
Felix Baumgartner’s jump from the stratosphere
Thirteen years ago, Felix Baumgartner performed one of the most impressive feats ever witnessed: he jumped in free fall from the stratosphere, over 39,000 meters high, above the desert of Roswell, New Mexico, USA. This achievement, which pushed the boundaries of science and human endurance, was made possible thanks to a specially designed pressurized suit and a capsule that ascended with the help of a helium balloon to the upper layers of the atmosphere.
After opening the hatch, the Austrian jumped into the void and, within seconds, broke the sound barrier, reaching a speed of 1,342 kilometers per hour. With this mission, he not only became the first person to break the sound barrier without mechanical assistance, but also set several world records, including the highest jump in history.
The feat, sponsored by Red Bull and named “Stratos,” was broadcast live worldwide and captivated millions of viewers. It represented not only a personal triumph for Baumgartner, but also a significant milestone in aerospace research and our understanding of the human body in extreme conditions.
What was Felix Baumgartner’s net worth?
Felix Baumgartner’s net worth was estimated at $5 million.
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Who was Felix Baumgartner?
Felix Baumgartner, born on April 20, 1969, in Salzburg, Austria, was internationally renowned for his extreme stunts and skydiving records. Since childhood, he had dreamed of becoming an adventurer, and his time in the Austrian military helped him refine key skills in precision jumps that proved vital to his career.
In 1999, he gained international fame by breaking the record for the highest parachute jump from a building, leaping from the Petronas Towers in Malaysia. In 2003, he became the first person to cross the English Channel in a parachute using a custom carbon-fiber wing. He also performed the world’s lowest BASE jump from the Christ the Redeemer statue in Brazil and was the first to jump from France’s Millau Viaduct. In 2007, he stunned the world by jumping from the 91st floor of Taipei 101.
His most iconic achievement came in 2012 with the “Stratos” mission, when, after months of testing, he jumped from nearly 39,000 meters above Earth, broke the sound barrier in free fall, and set multiple records. He was honored with awards such as the Bambi, the Laureus World Sports Award, and recognitions from Top Gear and Flying magazine.
On a personal level, he was romantically linked to public figures like Gitta Saxx and Mihaela Rădulescu. He was also involved in several controversies over political remarks and impulsive actions, including a conviction for assault. Nevertheless, Baumgartner left an indelible mark on the world of extreme sports, admired for his courage and for pushing the limits of human potential.
