Austrian skydiving champion Felix Baumgartner has died in an accident in Italy, ANSA and France Press reported, citing local firefighters and paramedics.
The accident in which 56-year-old Baumgartner died took place in Porto Sant'Elpidio in the Marche region. However, the circumstances surrounding it have not yet been specified by the authorities.
According to “Corriere della Sera“ Baumgartner lost control of a paraglider after feeling unwell. He fell into the swimming pool of a private residence in Porto Sant'Elpidio. A young woman was also injured in the fall. The champion died when he hit the water.
Parachutist and extreme jumper Felix Baumgartner has broken several world records. In 2012, for example, he parachuted from a height of 39 kilometers from a capsule positioned above the Earth and then became the first person to break the sound barrier during free fall.