Gold Coast great grandmother skydives over Kirra Beach
A great grandmother of 12 has shocked onlookers with a heart-pumping birthday present.
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At 93 years old Betty Gregory is taking thrill seeking to new heights.
The former Women’s Auxiliary Air Force photographer jumped out of a plane over Kirra Beach at 15,000ft to celebrate her birthday last month.
“It’s exhilarating. I didn’t feel any fear at all,” she said.
The Gold Coast grandmother of 10 and great grandmother of 12 took up tandem skydiving at 80 years old, with the birthday jump marking her fourth leap.
“I’m not brave – it’s just all good fun,” she said.
Her granddaughter Kerrie Arrowsmith said Ms Gregory was an “inspiration”.
“She had always and will always embrace life,” she said.
“She’s a shining example of manifestation. She thinks she’s happy and therefore she is happy.”
The dive was backed by Feros Care where Ms Gregory lives.
Employee Natalia Jastrzab joked the celebratory dive was “a bit ironic” and also “beyond exciting”.
“We’ve set Betty up with a system to make sure she doesn’t fall at home, but here we are cheering her on as she jumps out of a plane,” she said.
“But that’s what makes her happy, so we’re all in.”
The thrillseeking great-grandmother, who’s also tried hot-air ballooning and explored Vietcong tunnels in Vietnam, said she next has her sights set on paragliding.
“I’ve done four skydives now, hot air-ballooning, I’ve been shot down a Vietcong tunnel and climbed Ayers Rock (Uluru), so what else is there left to do?,” she asked.
“I was planning to head on a 95th skydive but I think I’ll wait and see.”
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Originally published as Gold Coast great grandmother skydives over Kirra Beach