Investigations into Baumgartner's Death: Technical Expert Team Commissioned
The investigations are now focusing on possible technical defects of the motorized paraglider. A technical expert team was commissioned for this purpose on Thursday.
Initial results are to be communicated to the prosecutor's office promptly, but the official report is not expected for at least 30 days, according to investigative circles. If technical failure due to third-party negligence is confirmed, this could lead to judicial investigations. Otherwise, the death of the 56-year-old is likely to be concluded as a tragic accident. Baumgartner's family has hired a lawyer in Fermo to follow the investigations.
Death of Felix Baumgartner: Video Camera Footage Being Examined
In the meantime, investigators have evaluated the last footage from the camera that the base jumper had attached to his leg before he started. However, they did not provide any insight into why the paraglider sail collapsed and the aircraft subsequently crashed.
The body has since been released and transferred to Salzburg, where the burial is to take place. There was no information yet on when the funeral ceremony will take place. The autopsy confirmed this week that Baumgartner's death was caused by a spinal fracture and a fatal spinal cord injury.
Rescuer Describes Dramatic Moments After the Accident
The daily newspaper "La Provincia di Como" interviewed a rescuer who happened to be at the accident site in Porto Sant ́Elpidio as a vacationer a week ago. "I was just on my way to a dart tournament that was supposed to start at 4 PM. I arrived a few minutes early when I suddenly saw at 3:55 PM how a motorized paraglider was losing altitude and was rushing to the ground faster and faster until it crashed between two swimming pools," reported the rescuer Giuseppe Frigerio. Together with another vacationer, Frigerio immediately called emergency services and described the situation: "I reported that the man was unconscious and breathing heavily. Ambulances and a helicopter were immediately dispatched."
Frigerio and a nurse from Milan, who was also vacationing at the resort, freed Baumgartner from the harness and began CPR. Shortly thereafter, the rescue forces arrived and continued resuscitation with a defibrillator - but in vain. An employee of the resort was also injured in the crash, but only slightly. She was nevertheless taken to the hospital - severely shocked.
"At that moment, the vacation was over for me," Frigerio recounted. Only hours later, on the drive home, did he learn from the radio news service whom he had unsuccessfully tried to save: "That's when I realized that the deceased was Felix Baumgartner. The radio mentioned a possible sudden fainting spell - exactly what I had thought, because it looked as if he hadn't reacted to the impact at all," emphasized Frigerio.
(APA/Red)
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