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Famous Austrian skydiver Felix Baumgartner has died at the age of 56 in a tragic paragliding crash in Italy.

Baumgartner was flying a motorized paraglider over the town of Porto Sant’Elpidio when he lost control and crashed into a hotel swimming pool. The accident happened on Thursday, and local police believe he may have had a sudden medical issue during the flight. Several people saw the crash as it happened.

Baumgartner became world-famous in 2012 when he jumped from a balloon at the edge of space, 38 kilometers (24 miles) above Earth. During that jump, he broke the sound barrier—becoming the first person to do so without being in a vehicle. He reached a speed of 1,343 km/h (834 mph) during his fall, landing safely in the New Mexico desert.

Known as “Fearless Felix,” he had been skydiving and base jumping for many years, jumping off skyscrapers, bridges, and famous landmarks. He also performed in air shows as a helicopter pilot.

Despite his sporting success, Felix was also known for his controversial views, including statements against climate change movements and support for far-right politicians. These opinions often drew criticism.

Felix said he always dreamed of flying and loved seeing the world from above. Even after achieving his record-breaking space jump, he stayed humble, saying, “All you want is to come back alive.”

Felix Baumgartner will be remembered as a daring adventurer who pushed the limits of what humans can do in the sky.

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