Steve Truglia (3 October 1962 – 17 November 2016) was a stunt coordinator, stunt performer and action unit director in the UK.^[1][2] He became a TED speaker in 2009.^[3] Truglia died while attempting to abseil from a helicopter.^[4]

Career

Truglia served as a reservist in the UK Special Forces for twenty years.^[1]

Truglia became a professional stuntman in 1996.^[1][5] His motion picture stunt credits included Saving Private Ryan and two James Bond films.^[6]

Truglia set multiple records, including:

• The longest Full Body Burn in the UK, ablaze for 2 minutes 5 seconds (unofficial record).^[1]
• British record (2002) for no limits freediving (breath hold diving) – 76 metres (249 ft).^[1][7]
• Awarded Guinness World Record in 2004 for fastest abseil over 100 metres (330 ft) (8.9 seconds).^[1]

Truglia made a fundraising attempt for a world-record high altitude parachute jump from the edge of space, to surpass what was then Joe Kittinger's 1960 record. Truglia's plan was to jump from 120,000 feet (37,000 m) in a spacesuit.^[6][8] He did not attempt the stunt prior to his death.

Death

Truglia died on 17 November 2016 while attempting a world record 100-metre (330 ft) speed abseil from a helicopter above Chongqing.^[4]