Australian great-grandmother, 102, becomes the oldest skydiver in the world

A 102-year-old Australian great-grandmother has become the oldest skydiver in the world. 

Adelaide woman Irene O'Shea jumped into the record books after she plunged from the sky in Langhorne Creek, in South Australia, on Sunday afternoon at 220km/h.  

The jump was the daredevil's third overall, having first skydived on her 100th birthday in 2016 at an impressive 14,000 feet and again the following year. 

Born on May 30, 1916, the mother-of-two said she had no fear heading into her third attempt. 

'I felt normal, about the same (as previous jumps),' she said. 

The grandmother who still drives, lives by herself and doesn't wear glasses took the title from Kenneth Meyer of New Jersey, who is 21 days younger than Ms O'Shea and completed his jump last year.   

Ms O'Shea said this won't be her final jump. 

'Possibly I will jump next year and if I live long enough I'll jump at 105,' she said.     

Ms O'Shea said her jump wasn't to beat a record, but to raise funds for research into Motor Neuron Disease after her daughter Shelagh died at the age of 67. 

'I lost my daughter to that terrible disease 10 years ago and I miss her,' she said. 

Ms O'Shea has set up a gofundme page for donations and aims to raise $10,000 this year. 

She has raised $12,000 previously.  

The 102-year-old from Athelstone completed her landing in front of 50 family and friends, who have been inspired by her achievement. 

'I felt inspired by her - the attitude and courage and fearlessness is amazing,' Shelagh's husband, Mike Fitzhenry, about his mother-in-law. 

'If I walk up three stairs and then walk back down I get nervous. I would never jump out of a plane.' 

South Australia Skydiving has congratulated the great-grandmother after she jumped in tandem with instructor Jed Smith. 

'An incredible woman, achieving incredible things,' said Mr Smith.

Source: dailymail.co.uk

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