Felix Baumgartner was known as skydiver, daredevil and BASE jumper who passed away. He jumped to Earth from a helium balloon from the stratosphere on 14 October 2012 and landing in New Mexico, United States.
He jumped from a height of around 39 kilometers (24 miles) above Earth, setting world records. During his freefall, he reached a top speed of about 1,358 km/h (844 mph) that’s faster than the speed of sound (Mach 1.25) without using any vehicle or engine. He became the first person to break the sound barrier with just his body in a freefall.
Felix Baumgartner died at 56
Felix Baumgartner died on 17 July 2025 at the age of 56 in Porto Sant’Elpidio, Italy due to paragliding flight accident.
During a paragliding flight in Porto Sant’Elpidio, Italy, the pilot lost control while in the air. As a result, he crashed into a swimming pool at the Le Mimose Family Camping Village. Unfortunately, during the crash, he hit a young woman who was in the pool area, and she got injured from the impact.
Red Bull ( Longtime Partner) said,
“We are shocked and overwhelmed with sadness… Felix was ‘born to fly’ and was determined to push the limits. He was also smart, professional, thorough and meticulous… We remember Felix as a lovely person, devoted to his family and friends, to whom we send our heartfelt sympathy. Felix, you will be deeply missed.”
Mayor of Porto Sant’Elpidio (Massimiliano Ciarpella) said on social media,
“Our community is deeply affected by the tragic disappearance of Felix Baumgartner, a figure of global prominence, a symbol of courage and passion for extreme flight.”
Early life
Felix Baumgartner was born on April 20, 1969, in Salzburg, Austria, and showed a fascination with flying from a very young age, often jumping off rooftops pretending to soar through the air. He began skydiving at age 16 and later trained as a paratrooper in the Austrian military, where his skills and discipline developed further.
Though he initially studied mechanical engineering, his passion led him to a career in extreme sports, especially skydiving and BASE jumping. In the 1990s, he joined Red Bull’s aerial team, quickly gaining fame for daring stunts like jumping from the Petronas Towers and flying across the English Channel with carbon wings. Known for his fearless attitude and mental focus, Felix turned his childhood dream of flying into a groundbreaking career.
Notable career
Felix Baumgartner was an Austrian skydiver and BASE jumper renowned for his daring feats, beginning with jumps from iconic landmarks like the Petronas Towers in Malaysia (1999), the Millau Viaduct in France, and Taipei 101 in Taiwan. In 2004, he became the first person to skydive across the English Channel using carbon-fiber wings. His most legendary achievement came in 2012 with the Red Bull Stratos mission, where he jumped from 39 km (24 miles) above Earth, becoming the first human to break the sound barrier in free fall, reaching a speed of 1,357.64 km/h (Mach 1.25).
He set multiple world records, including highest freefall, highest manned balloon flight, and fastest speed in freefall without engine power. After retiring from extreme stunts, he continued flying helicopters and paragliding until his tragic death in a paragliding accident in Italy in 2025. He received various awards including the Bambi award and the Mankind Award. He received Laureus World Action Sportsperson of the Year title name in 12 March 2013.
Personal life
Felix Baumgartner was born in Salzburg, Austria, and was close to his supportive mother. He was in a long-term relationship with Romanian TV host Mihaela Rădulescu, had no children, and kept most of his family life private.
