Felix Baumgartner, famous for stratosphere jump, dies in paragliding at 56

Felix Baumgartner, the renowned adventurer who gained fame for his unprecedented parachute jump from the stratosphere in 2012, passed away in a tragic paragliding incident in Italy, confirmed by a local mayor. Firefighters responding to the scene discovered a paraglider crash into a swimming pool in the city of Porto Sant Elpidio on Italy's eastern coast. The Mayor of the town, Massimiliano Ciarpella, expressed deep sadness at Baumgartner's sudden loss, describing him as a global symbol of courage and passion for extreme flight. Baumgartner, who hailed from Austria, made headlines worldwide in 2012 for his stratospheric jump, where he also broke the record for the fastest free fall. He began his daredevil journey at the age of 16, with his skills further developed during his time in the Austrian military. Baumgartner's initiatives were often sponsored by Red Bull, including the groundbreaking Stratos project. The training and planning for the 2012 Stratos jump spanned five years, during which he would break multiple records, including the highest jump previously held by Air Force Capt. Joe Kittinger. In addition to skydiving, Baumgartner was renowned for his BASE jumping achievements, setting records for both the highest and lowest jumps. Despite his daring feats, Baumgartner admitted to Red Bull that fear of the unknown elements during his missions unsettled him the most, leading to a cautious approach if conditions were not optimal. While inspiring millions with his stunts, Baumgartner's political views sometimes stirred controversy, with his social media presence reflecting skepticism towards climate activists and LGBTQ rights, as well as endorsing certain political figures.