Record breaking skydive for Keith
Keith Reid, a resident at the Domain Macquarie Place aged care facility in New South Wales’ Cameron Park, chose an unusual way to celebrate his 90th birthday last month.
Keith Reid, a resident at the Domain Macquarie Place aged care facility in New South Wales’ Cameron Park, chose an unusual way to celebrate his 90th birthday last month.
Cheered on by family, friends, staff and residents from Domain Macquarie Place, he completed a record breaking tandem skydive over Maitland.
It was an amazing day of firsts for Mr Reid. Not only had he never previously tried skydiving, but before his birthday skydive he hadn’t even set foot inside an aeroplane.
“When I told my son I wanted to skydive for my 90th he thought I was crazy,” Mr Reid said. “But I knew that this would be the perfect way to celebrate such a momentous birthday.”
The World War Two veteran cemented his place in the record books as Australia’s oldest skydiver with a tandem dive from 14,000 feet which included a minute’s free fall before he parachuted to the ground.
“Sitting at the edge of the plane I felt an incredible adrenaline rush and the actual jump was the most exhilarating moment of my life. It was a truly spectacular experience,” he said.
“At my age people think you’ve done and seen everything. But you’re never too old to try something new.”
Darran Paul, Domain Macquarie Place’s facility manager, said Mr Reid had an “amazing zest for life” and never allowed anything to hold him back.
“On behalf of all the staff at Domain Macquarie Place I’d like to wish him a happy 90th birthday and many more to come.”
