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‘Oldest skydiver’ dies a week after skydiving

oldest skydiver

104-year-old Dorothy Hoffner jumps from a plane one week ago in what is believed to be a new world record for the oldest skydiver in the world. | Reuters

Dorothy Hoffner, the 104-year-old Chicago woman who jumped from a plane one week ago in what is believed to be a new world record for the oldest skydiver in the world, died on Monday, Oct 9, 2023, according to Skydive Chicago & Parachute Association, local media reported.

READ MORE: Chicago woman, 104 years old, eyes world’s oldest skydiver record

One week earlier, on Sunday, October 1, Hoffner left behind her walker to do a 13,500-foot tandem leap from an airplane at Skydive Chicago in Ottawa, Illinois.

READ MORE: Lola from Alegria, Cebu shows off diving skills at 75

“It’s really a wonderful feeling to feel the earth under you,” she said at the time. “When you feel good, you can do these things. Sometimes, you have a fear or scare of doing it, but if you feel good, do it.”

Hoffner was met with a huge round of applause once her feet returned to solid ground, even though the centenarian herself didn’t see what all the fuss was about.

The Guinness World Record attended Hoffner’s jump but has yet to complete the process of certifying it. The current record was set back in May 2022 by 103-year-old Linnéa Ingegärd Larsson from Sweden.

TAGS: adventure, inspiration, senior, skydiving
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