Remembering Felix Baumgartner: Austrian Skydiver, Famed For ‘Faster Than Sound’ Space Jump, Dies In Italy Crash

Austrian extreme athlete Felix Baumgartner, famous for his stratospheric jump where he broke the sound barrier, passed away aged 56 in a crash off the eastern coast of Italy on Thursday, 17 July 2025. The skydiver, nicknamed ‘Fearless Felix’, was a part of the Red Bull Stratos team. In 2012, he jumped from 39 kilometres above Earth, reaching speeds of 843.6 mph, which is 1.25 times the speed of sound. With this feat, he became the first human to break the sound barrier with his body. His record for the highest skydive was surpassed two years later by Google executive Alan Eustace.

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Updated on: 18 July 2025 12:42 pm

Austrian skydiver Felix Baumgartner dies in paragliding crash in Italy_1

Felix Baumgartner | Photo: Joerg Mitter / Red Bull Content Pool

Felix Baumgartner of Austria seen in Salzburg, Austria on August 22, 2022.

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Austrian skydiver Felix Baumgartner dies in paragliding crash in Italy_2

Felix Baumgartner | Photo: Mihai Stetcu / Red Bull Content Pool

Felix Baumgartner of Austria seen in Spayer, Germany on August 18, 2022

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Austrian skydiver Felix Baumgartner dies in paragliding crash in Italy_

Felix Baumgartner | Photo: Philip Platzer / Red Bull Ring

Felix Baumgartner performs during the FIA Formula 1 World Championship at the Red Bull Ring in Spielberg, Austria on June 29, 2025.

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Austrian skydiver Felix Baumgartner dies in paragliding crash in Italy_3

Felix Baumgartner, Siegfried ‚Blacky‘ Schwarz and Mirko Flaim | Photo: Joerg Mitter / Red Bull Content Pool

Felix Baumgartner, Siegfried ‚Blacky‘ Schwarz and Mirko Flaim of the Flying Bulls seen during the AIRPOWER24 in Zeltweg, Austria on September 6, 2024.

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