Felix Baumgartner, Skydiver Who Jumped From the Edge of Space, Dies Paragliding at 56

Europe|Felix Baumgartner, 56, Professional Daredevil, Dies While Paragliding

Felix Baumgartner, the Austrian extreme adventurer who hurtled to earth from more than 24 miles high in 2012 and became the first human to break the sound barrier while free-falling, died on Thursday in a paragliding accident along the Adriatic coast in Italy. He was 56.

His death was confirmed by Red Bull, the energy drink company that sponsored him, as well as by the Italian authorities.

Mr. Baumgartner crashed to the ground a few yards from a swimming pool in the town of Porto Sant’Elpidio, the mayor, Massimiliano Ciarpella, said on Friday. He said that Mr. Baumgartner had become ill during his flight and had lost consciousness by the time of impact in a part of town popular among tourists. An autopsy was to be performed, he said.

Mayor Ciarpella called Mr. Baumgartner “a figure of global prominence, a symbol of courage and passion for extreme flight.”