In what is being described as one of the most shocking tragedies in action-sports history, Austrian freeride mountain bike legend Fabio Wibmer, 30, was reportedly killed Thursday afternoon by a large mountain lion while filming a top-secret line on the infamous cliffs of Red Bull Rampage in southern Utah. Eyewitnesses and leaked helmet-cam footage have sent the global cycling community into a state of collective grief and disbelief.
At approximately 5:12 p.m., crew members heard a terrifying sequence of screams followed by complete radio silence. When the spotter drone finally located Wibmer’s position minutes later, the unthinkable was captured: a full-grown male mountain lion (estimated 140–160 lbs) had dragged the rider several meters from his bike and was actively attacking him on a narrow ledge barely wider than a dinner table.
Rescue attempts by helicopter were immediately launched, but the extreme terrain and fading daylight made approach impossible for nearly 35 minutes. By the time Utah Department of Wildlife Resources officers and Search & Rescue teams reached the site at 6:08 p.m., Wibmer had succumbed to catastrophic injuries. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
The leaked GoPro footage – which has already been viewed more than 40 million times across platforms despite frantic takedown efforts – shows Wibmer perfectly executing a manual along the knife-edge ridge at sunset. In the last audible seconds, he can be heard laughing and saying in German, “Das ist der geilste Spot meines Lebens” (“This is the sickest spot of my life”). A low growl is then heard off-camera, followed by the rider turning his head just as the mountain lion launches from the shadows.
Red Bull GmbH released a brief official statement at 11:30 p.m. CET:
“We are devastated beyond words by the loss of Fabio Wibmer, not only a once-in-a-generation athlete but a genuinely kind and inspiring human being. Our thoughts are with his family, his team, and the millions of fans whose lives he touched. We ask for privacy during this unimaginable time and will share verified information only when appropriate.”
Wibmer’s longtime manager, Markus Steinberger, posted a black square on Instagram with the caption: “There are no words. Fabio left us doing exactly what he loved most, on the most beautiful line he had ever seen. Rest in peace, brother.”
Tributes have poured in from every corner of the action-sports world. Brandon Semenuk, four-time Rampage champion, wrote: “I can’t even process this. Fabio was the reason so many of us pushed harder. The mountain took our brightest star today.” Danny MacAskill called him “the most creative rider who ever lived,” while Kilian Bron said the sport “has lost its soul.”
Fabio Wibmer rose to global fame with his 2016 viral edit Fabiolous Escape, which has over 170 million YouTube views to date. His unique blend of urban trials, massive mountain lines, and cinematic storytelling redefined what was possible on a mountain bike. At the time of his death, his combined social following exceeded 50 million across Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok.
The attack marks the first confirmed fatal mountain-lion encounter involving a professional mountain biker in North America. Wildlife experts note that cougar attacks on humans remain extremely rare – fewer than 30 fatalities have been recorded in the past century – but drought conditions in the Southwest have pushed big cats into higher-elevation terrain in search of water and prey.
As of Friday morning, authorities have closed the entire Rampage venue indefinitely. Organizers are reportedly discussing whether the 2025 event can proceed at all, with many top riders already announcing they will not return to the site out of respect.
A GoFundMe verified by Wibmer’s family has raised more than $1.8 million in under 12 hours, with all proceeds going to mountain-lion conservation and youth mountain-bike programs in Tirol, Austria – causes Fabio passionately supported.
The extreme-sports world remains in stunned silence, struggling to comprehend life without the rider who made the impossible look effortless. Fabio Wibmer was more than an athlete; he was the beating heart of freeride mountain biking.
Rest in peace, Fabio. The cliffs will never sound the same without your laugh echoing off them.
The article in question presents unverified rumors that have not been substantiated by reliable sources. It is important to approach such information with caution, as it lacks credible evidence and could potentially mislead readers. Until further verification is provided, this should be regarded as speculative and not confirmed fact.
