Featured Image Credit: Harold Cunningham/Getty
Topics: News, World News
Gerrard Kaonga
New details on the sudden death of Felix Baumgartner have been revealed by authorities, following global tributes to the Austrian daredevil.
Felix Baumgartner’s most famous stunt is very much what made him a household name around the globe.
Back in 2012, he jumped to Earth from a helium balloon up in space in an incredibly impressive feat, setting a world record for the 'Longest Vertical Distance of Free-fall without drogue'.
However, the 56-year-old's death was announced last week following a paragliding accident in the eastern Italian town of Porto Sant’Elpidio on July 17.
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Local media reported at the time that Baumgartner lost consciousness while in flight, and then lost control of his paraglider. He ended up crashing into a hotel pool, lightly injuring a member of staff.
Authorities have now confirmed the cause of his death, and have given more information about the incident.
Attorney General Raffaele Iannella, who is leading the investigation into Baumgartner's death, told the German publication BILD that autopsies are currently being conducted on the daredevil’s body.
Iannella said: “What we know for sure so far: Baumgartner died on impact, his spine fractured in the lower part of his back, and his spinal cord was damaged.”
Investigators are also looking into the cause of the crash and are expected to release more information at a later date.
Following his death, Baumgartner’s wife Mihaela Radulescu Schwartzenberg took to Twitter and shared the video of him taking off on his final flight.
She also offered up a sweet tribute alongside the footage, penning: “I was filming him taking off not knowing that this will be his last flight of his extraordinary life.
“For over 12y I was there for every take off and landing, from skydiving, paragliding, helicopter flights, paramotor to aerobatic shows. And when I couldn’t be there for some heli flights, we had the WLC code - ‘the Wifey Landing Call’.
"Never missed one. Except …this one.”
She thanked people for their kind words and reflected on the grief she expects to face going forward, adding: “Felix Baumgartner is going home now, up there, where he was the happiest ever.
“Thank you all for your support and for keeping his unique legacy high up. This man was truly special, in so many ways, and I’ll make sure I’ll keep telling his story.
“But now…., I have to deal with the shock, the pain, the sunrises where I get to make just one coffee, not two…”