This article may contain graphic and/or adult content unsuitable for minors and sensitive readers.
The first man to set foot on the moon, renowned US astronaut Neil Armstrong, has died, his family announced Saturday, prompting glowing tributes to his achievements and notably humble character.
Armstrong, who inspired a generation to reach for the stars, underwent cardiac bypass surgery earlier this month after doctors
found blockages in his coronary arteries, but he died following subsequent complications. He was 82.
Praising Armstrong as a "reluctant American hero," his heartbroken relatives expressed hope his legacy would encourage
young people to "work hard to make their dreams come true, to be willing to explore and push the limits and to selflessly serve a cause greater than themselves."
Armstrong and fellow Apollo 11 astronaut Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin landed on the moon's desolate surface on July 20, 1969.
His first words upon stepping on the lunar surface have since been etched in history: "That's one small step for (a) man, one
giant leap for mankind."
