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Vince Reffet in action at an air show in Greece in 2016
Photo: Yorgos Karahalis / AP
With their spectacular base jump from the Burj Chalifa in Dubai, the tallest building in the world at 828 meters, Vince Reffet and Fred Fugen set a Guinness record in April 2014.
Now Reffet's love for the exceptional sport has evidently become fatal.
As reported by the French media, the 36-year-old had an accident during a training session in Dubai.
The authorities are investigating the death.
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Vince Reffet (left) and the former Swiss pilot Yves Rossy, founder of the Jetman Dubai company.
Photo: Kamran Jebreili / AP
"Vince was a talented athlete and a very beloved and respected member of our team," said a brief statement from Jetman Dubai.
"Our thoughts and prayers go with his family and everyone who knew him and worked with him."
Three weeks ago, Reffet documented a flight in Dubai on his Instagram account.
Reffet's insane stunts made history: With carbon wings attached to the back and four engines, it flew over the skyline of Dubai, so to speak, with an Airbus A380, in the Chinese Tianmen National Park it sped through the so-called heavenly gate, accelerated by four jet engines.
During his daring actions, he sometimes reached speeds of up to 400 kilometers per hour.
"Everything we do is new," said Reffet in an interview with the AFP news agency in October: "We have so many dreams and life is so short."
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