FELIX BAUMGARTNER has died aged 56 after crashing into a pool in a paragliding tragedy.
The Austrian skydiver became a household name when he jumped to Earth from a helium balloon in 2012.
He set world records for skydiving an estimated 24 miles and reaching an estimated top speed of Mach 1.25 (843.6mph), becoming the first person ever to break the sound barrier without vehicular power.
But Baumgartner’s latest adventure ended in tragedy as he plunged to his death while attempting another stunning feat.
According to Sky Austria, the extreme sports lover was in Porto Sant’Elpidio, Italy, when disaster struck.
Baumgartner had been flying in a motored paraglider when he suffered a “sudden onset of illness.”;
This caused him to lose control, with Baumgartner’s glider crashing to the ground and into a hotel swimming pool.
THIS IS A DEVELOPING STORY..
