Death of Famous Skydiver

Felix Baumgartner, April 20, 1969 - July 17, 2025:

Felix Baumgartner, the Austrian skydiver celebrated for his 2012 record-breaking jump from the stratosphere, died on July 17, 2025, in a tragic paragliding accident in Porto Sant'Elpidio on Italy’s Adriatic coast. He was 56 years old.

He lost control of his motorized paraglider and according to eyewitnesses crashed near a swimming pool in the tourist village. Reports indicate that he may have suffered a health episode during the flight, which caused him to lose control.

Besides many exploits including thousands of jumps he is noted for a 2012 world record of a jump from a balloon at 128,000* feet attaining supersonic speed.

R.I.P. Felix Baumgartner

*(Baumgartner's record was broken in 2014 by Alan Eustace at 135,890 feet).

For historical context, below is a video from the "Parachute Museum Theater" presented by the Aviation Trail Parachute Museum which shows Baumgartner's record 2012 jump:

From Parachute Museum Theater:

Jumping From Space!

Presented by BBC Studios

BBC Studios video

#6 in a series of videos featured on the Aviation Trail Parachute Museum Theater:

In 2012 Austrian Felix Baumgartner successfully broke Joe Kittinger's record for the world’s highest parachute jump that was set in 1960 (see video #3 in the Parachute Museum Theater series). Baumgartner dropped from an unofficial altitude of 128,000 feet - about 1.5 miles higher than expected. In the process, he also became the first skydiver to exceed the speed of sound - 833.9 mph while in freefall (Mach 1.24 - the first supersonic skydive). He and the Stratos Red Bull team broke three more records: Highest manned balloon flight, 128,000 feet; greatest freefall distance, 119,846 feet; fastest mechanically unaided speed, 833.9 mph. Joe Kittinger, whose record was broken, is the one in mission control communicating with Baumgartner in this dramatic video.

Red Bull Stratos Project space dive 2012

presented by BBC Studios

don't forget to turn the sound on)

Other links:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Felix_Baumgartner

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Bull_Stratos

See the Parachute Museum page

 for access to more Parachute Museum Theater videos.

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The Aviation Trail Parachute Museum

16 South Williams Street

Dayton, OH 45402

(937) 225-7705

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