Austrian skydiver Felix Baumgartner dies in paragliding crash

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Austrian extreme sportsman Felix Baumgartner died on Thursday while paragliding in Italy, the Austrian Foreign Ministry and Italian fire brigade confirmed to dpa, citing Italian authorities.

The 56-year-old, who made international headlines in 2012 for his historic skydive from the edge of space, crashed in the seaside resort of Porto Sant'Elpidio on the Adriatic coast, they said.

The fire brigade said Baumgartner crashed into the swimming pool of a municipal accommodation block at around 4 pm (1400 GMT) and died instantly. It is suspected that he fainted and lost control of his motorized paraglider.

The extreme sportman fell on a hotel employee, who was taken to hospital with injuries, the fire brigade added.

The Italian sports newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport said the employee did not sustain serious injuries. According to Italian media, several guests were in the hotel pool at the time, but were not injured in the accident.

Baumgartner became world famous in 2012 when he became the first person to reach the speed of sound in free fall during a jump from the stratosphere.

Millions of people watched live on television and online as he plunged into the depths, reaching a top speed of more than 1,300 kilometres per hour and setting the record for the highest manned baloon flight and the highest parachute jump.

Baumgartner was reportedly on holiday in Italy with his wife at the time of his death.