Extreme skydiver Felix Baumgartner dies in paragliding accident in Italy

Felix Baumgartner has died at the age of 56. File picture: John Moore/Getty

Extreme athlete Felix Baumgartner, the first skydiver to fall faster than the speed of sound during a 24-mile leap through the stratosphere more than a decade ago, died in a crash on Thursday along the eastern coast of Italy. He was 56.

Italian firefighters said a paraglider crashed into the side of a swimming pool in the city of Porto Sant Elpidio.