Austrian extreme athlete Felix Baumgartner died in a paragliding accident in Italy at the age of 56. According to media reports, he lost control of his aircraft and crashed into a hotel pool.

Austrian extreme athlete Felix Baumgartner died in a paragliding accident, according to several Italian media outlets, including the Italian news agency Ansa. The incident occurred around 4 p.m. on Thursday afternoon in the coastal town of Porto Sant'Elpidio on the Adriatic coast.

As the fire department called to the scene confirmed to APA, the 56-year-old reportedly lost control of a paraglider due to a sudden onset of discomfort and crashed into a hotel pool. There are also conflicting reports regarding Baumgartner's time of death: There are discrepancies as to whether he was already dead before the crash or only afterward. The exact circumstances of the accident are currently being investigated, and further information may follow.

When he fell, he hit a hotel employee who was taken to hospital with neck injuries.

Shortly before the accident, Baumgartner had shared a video of himself preparing for the paragliding flight on social media. In his last story, he also posted a photo of an airfield with the caption:"Too much wind."

Known for free fall records

Felix Baumgartner was internationally known for his daredevil stunts. In 1999, he jumped from the 88th floor of the Petronas Tower in Kuala Lumpur. The Salzburg native achieved worldwide fame in 2012 when he jumped from a height of approximately 39 kilometers from the stratosphere. He was also the first person ever to cross the English Channel without motorized assistance.

After his stratospheric jump, Baumgartner announced his retirement from extreme sports.

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