101-Year-Old Man Sets Skydiving Record

British man jumps 15,000 feet out of a plane to raise money for veterans charity.

May 15, 2017 2:33 pm

Few people make it to their 100 birthday. So, Bryson William ‘Verdun’ Hayes decided to celebrate his centenarian status by jumping out of a plane for the first time.

A year later, the British man set the record for the world’s oldest tandem skydiver this weekend, jumping 15,000 feet at 101 years old and 34 days. The previous record holder jumped 10,000 feet at a more spritely 101 years old and three days.

After landing, Hayes, who is from southwest England, told CNN he was “over the moon.”

“Last year’s skydive was an amazing experience,” he said. “It just made me want to do it again.”

Hayes made the jump with eight members of his family, including his grandson-in-law, Ian Honnor.

“He would class himself as a bit of a daredevil,” Honnor said. “It wouldn’t surprise me if he does it again in a year’s time. He’s also talking about wing walking.”

Hayes, who served in World War II, used the attention from the jump to raise money for The Royal British Legion, a charity that assists armed forces, veterans and family members in the UK.

So far, he’s raised $3,100 for his efforts with no end in sight.

See video of the jump below.

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