Evel Knievel, the motorcycle stuntman whose daredevil exploits made him an international icon, has died in Florida.
He was 69 and had been suffering from pulmonary fibrosis for some years.
By the time of his retirement, he had broken almost 40 bones, including his back seven times and spent at least a month in a coma in 1968.
Robert Craig Knievel retired in 1981.
Born in Butte, Montana, he said he was inspired at the age of eight when he saw an auto daredevil show.
His personal life was at times almost as painful as his job. He had trouble with the law starting as a teenager, went through bankruptcy and was estranged for years from his son, Robbie, who also became a motorcycle daredevil.
He was dubbed 'Evil Knievel' by a jailer in Montana after crashing his motorcycle while fleeing from police. He later changed the spelling to 'Evel' as his daredevil career took off to avoid being perceived as a bad guy.
Knievel was married twice and had four children.
