Felix Baumgartner has died aged 56 in a paragliding accident in Italy.
The Austrian skydiver and daredevil passed away after crashing into a hotel swimming pool on Thursday.
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Baumgartner died aged 56 in a paragliding accident on ThursdayCredit: AFP
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The Austrian daredevil famously broke the sound barrier hurtling to Earth in 2012Credit: Handout
Baumgartner had been paragliding above the village of Porto Sant-Elpidio.
According to local mayor Massimiliano Ciarpella, he fell ill while in the sky before the tragic accident.
A hotel worker was also taken to hospital with neck injuries suffered in the accident.
Tributes have since flooded in for Baumgartner, who famously broke the sound barrier in 2012 after hurtling back to Earth from 24 miles in the sky.
Red Bull, who sponsored his world record sky dive 13 years ago, wrote: “Thank you, Felix. Thank you for being exactly who you were. Clear, demanding and critical. With others, but most of all with yourself.”
Ciarpella described Baumgartner as ‘a symbol of courage and passion for extreme flights’.
His final social media post has now been inundated by fans offering their condolences as it showed him preparing for the fatal paragliding trip.
Ahead of taking to the sky, Baumgartner shared a video to his Instagram page.
In the clip, he can be seen working on the paraglider, using a toolbox to make adjustments to the motor.
A separate picture uploaded to his Instagram story also revealed the blustery conditions in the area.
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Baumgartner’s final social media post saw him working on the paraglider’s motorCredit: instagram / @therealfelixbaumgartner 
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Another Instagram post including the caption ‘too much wind’Credit: instagram / @therealfelixbaumgartner
Baumgartner wrote alongside snap: “Too much wind.”
The extreme sports icon is best known for his world record sky dive 13 years ago.
Reaching a top speed of 843mph, he broke the sound barrier as he jumped from the edge of space using a helium balloon.
After jumping from the Earth’s stratosphere, he was in free fall for four minutes and 19 seconds before landing in New Mexico, USA.
Reflecting on his feat years later, Baumgartner said: “I wanted to be the first human outside of an aircraft breaking the sound barrier.
“It’s very difficult to (make) a perfect exit, do not over-rotate, there’s no air to use to slow down.
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Baumgartner fell back to Earth from 24 miles in the air for his iconic featCredit: Handout – Getty
“First 25 seconds it looked like everything’s under control. Then after 34 seconds I hit Mach 1 and broke the speed of sound. That was our goal.
“I was mentally prepared to spin. I started, it got faster. There was no protocol. Then it really ramped up. It wasn’t about breaking records any more, it was about survival.
“(In the end) I was happy. Even the landing was perfect.”
Baumgartner also once crossed the English Channel in a paraglider in another iconic stunt.