Irene O’Shea, a 102-year-old woman has broken the record of world’s oldest person to skydive. She is believed to fall from over 14,000 feet through the South Australian atmosphere. According to the reports, the title of oldest person to skydive was held by Kenneth Meyer in 2017. Meyer was also 102-year-old during that time. You must be thinking that both the skydivers were of same age then how is it claimed that O’Shea is the oldest skydiver? Well, Meyer was actually 102 years and 172 days old when he plunged through the aircraft while Irene O’Shea became 102 year and 194 days old when she jumped through the aircraft on December 9, 2018.
102-year-old grandma becomes world’s oldest skydiver
The 100-year-old adrenaline addict Irene O’Shea said she “felt normal” after a 220 km/hour (140 m/hour) dive. During the dive, her cheeks were also flapping wildly. She has also completed her diving earlier in 2016 to celebrate her 100th birth anniversary. At that time, her name was not registered in one of the world records but on December 9, she embedded her name in the history books by successfully jumping from 14,000 feet at the age of 102 years and 194 days. As seen in the video, O’shea wore a cable-knit, turtle-neck sweater while diving.
“It was very clear up there, and the weather was good but it was very cold,” said O’Shea to Australian media. She skydived to raise fund for the charity. O’Shea jumped while hoping to use her skydiving to increase funds and awareness for the Motor Neurone Disease Association of South Australia. 10 years ago, her daughter was also diagnosed with a motor neuron disease (a degenerative disorder also known as ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease) and she died due to it.
O’Shea skydived for the first time on her 100th birthday in her hometown of Athelstone, Australia. O’shea addressed a local news reporter straightaway after the descent, “As far as I’m concerned I’m the same as everyone else, just a normal person,”, when questioned if she would classify herself as an adrenaline junkie.
When O’shea was jumping, her grandchildren and great-grandchildren waited for her at the landing area and as she landed, they received her by hugs.
