BUTTE, MONTANA - Famous Beloved Stuntman Evel Knievel has died at the age of 69 according to a family member.

Knievel’s granddaughter, Krysten Knievel confirms that he died after his health failed due to diabetes and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. In 1999 he also underwent a liver transplant after complications from hepatitis C. he was born Robert Craig Knievel Jr. on October 17, 1938 in Butte, Montana, USA.

Knievel will likely be most remembered for a failed stunt he tried to perform in Idaho. He attempted to jump over a canyon with a rocket powered motorcycle, which ended in a major crash.

“No king or prince has lived a better life. You’re looking at a guy who’s really done it all. And there are things I wish I had done better, not only for me but for the ones I loved,” said Knievel in an Associated Press interview in 2006.

Knievel retired in 1980.

Knievel was unfortunately one of 40,000 people in the U.S. who will lose their lives to idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) this year, the same number as will die from breast cancer. Yet, most people have never heard of IPF.

IPF has no FDA approved treatment, no known cause and no cure. The disease strikes randomly, placing American adults at risk to develop it. More than 128,000 people suffer from IPF in the United States, and prevalence and incidence of the deadly disease has increased more than 150 percent in just five years.

Our prayers and sympathies go out to the Knievel Family, He was a living legend and will be greatly missed by his loyal fans and friends.