Do you still remember Felix Baumgartner? In 2012, he became a global sensation after performing the world's highest skydive from a height of 38,969 km, breaking the previous record set in 1960. It was one of the most-watched YouTube live streams ever. It is with great sadness that fans of extreme sports have been informed that this athlete has passed away today.
Baumgartner died after the motorized paraglider he was flying crashed in the village of Porto Sant'Elpidio. The cause of the accident is still being investigated by Italian authorities.
During his lifetime, Baumgartner made a name for himself in several extreme sports through his collaboration with Red Bull. Among the records he once held were the lowest BASE jump off the Christ the Redeemer statue in Brazil and the highest BASE jump from the top of the PETRONAS Twin Towers, both in 1999.
The late Baumgartner's highest jump record only lasted two years after being broken by Alan Eustace who jumped from a height of 41.419 km.