STORY: Eyewitnesses described scenes of shock and confusion on Friday (July 18) after Austrian skydiver Felix Baumgartner fatally crashed while paragliding near a crowded swimming pool on Italy’s Adriatic coast.

"I was in the water with my son and, as I turned my head, I sensed, let’s say, a bit of strange movement, kind of like a rumble," said local witness Stefano Camarchia. "I saw something coming down... I realized afterwards that it was a hang glider or something like that, but that’s all. I didn’t see anything more because it happened in just a fraction of a second."

Baumgartner lost control of his motorized paraglider while flying over Porto Sant'Elpidio in Italy's central Marche region, and fell to the ground near the swimming pool of a hotel, local police said. The reasons for the accident were unclear.

Porto Sant'Elpidio's mayor, Massimiliano Ciarpella, said reports suggested he may have suffered a sudden medical issue mid-air, and offered the town's condolences for the death of "a symbol of courage and passion for extreme flights."

The Austrian made headlines around the world in October 2012 when, wearing a specially made suit, he jumped from a balloon 24 miles (38 km) above Earth, becoming the first skydiver to break the sound barrier, typically measured at more than 690 mph.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

'It happened in a fraction of a second': eyewitnesses on Felix Baumgartner's deadly paragliding crash

VIDEO SHOWS: SCENES FROM THE HOLIDAY RESORT AND SWIMMING POOL NEAR SITE OF SKYDIVER FELIX BAUMGARTNER'S PARAGLIDING CRASH / SOUNDBITE FROM EYEWITNESS

RESENDING WITH COMPLETE SCRIPT

SHOWS: PORTO SANT'ELPIDIO, ITALY (JULY 18, 2025) (REUTERS - Access all)

1. ITALIAN AND EUROPEAN FLAGS FLUTTERING IN WIND

2. VIEW OF BEACH

3. VARIOUS OF THE SWIMMING POOL NEAR SITE OF SKYDIVER FELIX BAUMGARTNER'S PARAGLIDING CRASH

4. WINDSURFER

5. (SOUNDBITE) (Italian) EYEWITNESS, STEFANO CAMARCHIA, SAYING:

"I was in the water with my son and, as I turned my head, I sensed, let’s say, a bit of strange movement, kind of like a rumble, and I saw something coming down. Then I realized, I mean, I realized afterwards that it was a hang glider or something like that, but that’s all. I didn’t see anything more because it happened in just a fraction of a second. And luckily, my son didn’t notice anything, and neither did my nephew, thankfully, because otherwise I’d have to explain everything to them. They might have even been traumatized, especially since it fell right into the pool. But really, it was just a matter of a second. That’s all I saw and can describe."

6. VARIOUS OF THE BEACH

7. (SOUNDBITE) (Italian) EYEWITNESS, SIMONE POLI, SAYING:

"Yeah, so, yesterday we arrived at the campsite and, while we were trying to find a parking spot, right inside there were the police, a tow truck, and then even the funeral car arrived. We saw that the situation was quite.. let’s say tense, and there was a very silent, heavy atmosphere."

8. SWIMMING POOL SEEN THROUGH FENCES

9. BEACH

10. WINDSURFERS ON WATER