Record-breaking skydiver dies in paragliding accident

18 Jul 2025 • 5:49 AM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

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  • Austrian extreme sportsman Felix Baumgartner has died at 56 in a paragliding accident in central Italy.
  • He lost control of his motorised paraglider while flying over Porto Sant'Elpidio and fell to the ground.
  • Local police and the mayor suggested he may have suffered a sudden medical issue mid-air, contributing to the crash.
  • Baumgartner was globally renowned for his 2012 record-breaking skydive from 24 miles above Earth, becoming the first person to break the sound barrier in freefall.
  • His career also included skydiving across the English Channel and off the Petronas Towers, alongside some controversial views.

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