Alan Eustace, a senior vice president of Google, has broken the world altitude record for a parachute jump that was set just two years ago.

The 57-year-old jumped from near the edge of the stratosphere in a specially-designed spacesuit over the southern New Mexico desert.

The American hit a top speed of 1,321 kph during a freefall that lasted four minutes and 27 seconds. He exceeded the speed of sound, setting off a small sonic boom.

He set off from a runway in Roswell, New Mexico, connected to a balloon filled with helium.

The balloon carried him for more than two hours to reach the target altitude of 41,148 meters.

The previous record was set by Austrian daredevil Felix Baumgartner in 2012, who parachuted from 36,576 meters.