Biography

Franz Reichelt was born on October 16, 1878 in Stetí, Czech Republic. He died on February 4, 1912 in Paris, France.

Austrian tailor known for his tragic jump from the Eiffel Tower in 1912 when he was experimenting his self-designed parachute. Even though many people think he died from injuries sustained on the fall, the coroner attested he suffered a heart-attack during the fall.

Reichelt fell 187 feet from the first platform of the Eiffel Tower when his self-designed parachute failed. He left an impact crater nearly 6 inches deep in the ground.

At least three newsreel cameras were there to film the tragedy. Surviving footage includes Reichelt hesitating for about 40 seconds before jumping; a long shot of his fall; his body being carried from the scene; and measurement of the impact crater.

The prefect of the Paris Police authorized Reichelt's parachute experiment believing he would use a dummy. It was only upon arriving at the Eiffel Tower that Reichelt told friends he would make the jump himself, and nothing could dissuade him.

I want to try the experiment myself and without trickery, as I intend to prove the worth of my invention.

You are going to see how my seventy-two kilos and my parachute will give your arguments the most decisive of denials.