Felix Baumgartner stirbt bei mysteriösem Paragliding-Absturz – Der Mann, der 2012 aus der Stratosphäre sprang, verunglückt plötzlich und tragisch! Was führte zum tödlichen Unfall des legendären Extremsportlers? Eine Nation fragt sich: Wie konnte das passieren?

Austrian extreme sports athlete Felix Baumgartner died on Thursday during a paragliding flight in Italy, the Austrian Foreign Ministry and Italian firefighters confirmed to the German agency dpa, citing Italian authorities.

The 56-year-old, who made international headlines in 2012 with his historic jump from the stratosphere, crashed in Porto Sant’Elpidio, a seaside resort on the Adriatic coast.

Firefighters said Baumgartner fell into the swimming pool of a municipal housing complex at around 16pm and died at the scene. It is suspected that he lost consciousness and control of the motorized paraglider.

The extreme athlete fell on a hotel employee, who was taken to hospital with injuries, firefighters added.

Italian sports newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport reported that the employee was not seriously injured. According to Italian media, several holidaymakers were in the hotel’s pool at the time but were not injured.

Baumgartner became famous worldwide in 2012 when he became the first person to reach the speed of sound in free fall during a jump from the stratosphere.

Millions of people watched live on television and online as he jumped from a balloon to the highest altitude ever achieved by man and set the record for the highest parachute jump, reaching a speed of over 1,300 kilometers per hour.

Baumgartner was reportedly on vacation in Italy with his wife at the time of the fatal accident.