Beachgoers knew something was wrong when they heard a loud boom ring out as a paraglider spun out of control, killing its only occupant, extreme athlete Felix Baumgartner.

Baumgartner, who was known as "Fearless Felix," was most known for his 2012 sky-dive that broke the sound barrier. The stunt was part of the Red Bull Stratos project. Baumgartner partnered with the company in an attempt to record the highest-ever sky-dive.

Extreme athlete Felix Baumgartner, the first skydiver to fall faster than the speed of sound, was killed in a crash along the eastern coast of Italy, according to an official. He was 56.