DAREDEVIL skydiver Felix Baumgartner suffered a suspected cardiac arrest while in the air before his paragliding accident.
Baumgartner, best known for jumping to Earth from space a helium balloon in 2012, tragically plunged to his death on Thursday, landing by a busy hotel swimming pool.
Shutterstock EditorialFelix Baumgartner reportedly suffered a cardiac arrest before crashing into a swimming pool[/caption]
Shutterstock EditorialThe daredevil skydiver lost his life in a paragliding accident on Thursday[/caption]
The 56-year-old lost his life while flying a motor-powered paraglider in Porto Sant’Elpidio, Italy, at around 4pm.
The Austrian set records for skydiving an estimated 24 miles and reaching an estimated top speed of Mach 1.25 (843.6mph), becoming the first person ever to break the sound barrier without vehicular support.
It has been speculated by Italian media that he suffered a cardiac arrest mid-air during his final trip.
He was said to be feeling unwell prior to take off before losing control of his craft and then crashing to the ground.
But by the time emergency responders arrived on the scene to help him, he was already in cardiac arrest, according to Repubblica.
They requested an air ambulance for transport to the hospital, but he was pronounced dead at the scene.
His wife, Mihaela Schwartzenberg, who was also in the area on a couple’s holiday, was informed and immediately rushed to the scene.
Reports also revealed a hotel employee was struck by Baumgartner at the end of his descent.
She was taken to the hospital after suffering neck injuries, though her condition is fortunately not serious.
Baumgartner’s accident came just hours after several tragic final posts on social media.
One showed him working on the glider that led to his death, with the ace captioning his post: “Man at work.”
While another, posted on Instagram Stories, showed a field with Baumgartner commenting: “Too much wind.”
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