Extreme athlete Felix Baumgartner has disclosed a terrifying detail about his record-breaking 2012 skydive from the stratosphere: he was clinically dead for 40 seconds during the descent.
The Moment Everything Went Black
During his 128,000ft (39km) freefall - part of the Red Bull Stratos mission - Baumgartner's body went into an uncontrolled spin at supersonic speeds, reaching 843.6mph (1,357.6km/h). The Austrian daredevil now admits this caused him to lose consciousness entirely.
"I was dead for 40 seconds," the now-54-year-old revealed in a recent interview. "When you're spinning that fast, the blood can't circulate properly. My vision went black and I lost all control."
How Science Saved His Life
The mission's medical team had anticipated this possibility. Baumgartner's specially designed pressurized suit contained technology to stabilize his spin automatically when sensors detected the dangerous rotation.
- The suit inflated strategically to counteract the spin
- Onboard computers triggered emergency protocols
- Ground control monitored his vitals in real-time
After regaining consciousness, Baumgartner completed the jump successfully, becoming the first human to break the sound barrier without vehicle propulsion.
The Lasting Impact
Now, over a decade later, Baumgartner reflects on how the experience changed him: "When you come that close to death, it makes you appreciate every moment. I still get emotional watching the footage."
The jump provided valuable data for aerospace safety and spacesuit design, contributing to future space tourism developments.
