Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
On top of the world ..at 101
D-day hero skydives into the record books
A D-DAY veteran has become the world’s oldest tandem skydiver at the age of 101 and 38 days.
Verdun Hayes leapt into the record books yesterday from a plane at 15,000ft. The daring great-grandad said: “It was brilliant, perfect; I’d do it all again tomorrow. I’ve not felt better in my life.” Verdun only tried skydiving for the first time last year, aged 100, but the UK record was not enough for him. The widower, who wanted to do a parachute jump since turning 90 but had been talked out of it by his late wife, was determined to take the world title too. That was set by Canada’s Armand Gendreau in 2013 at the age of 101 and three days. Verdun, who was accompanied on the skydive by three generations of his family, added: “In a way it’s about beating the world record, but it is coming with the family that is the main thing.” The fearless OAP is no stranger to risk, having served with the Royal Signals in the Second World War. He reached the rank of Lance Corporal and took part in the D-day invasion of Gold Beach. He and a friend, Sgt Edgar Robertson, were digging trenches when a German shell exploded nearby. Verdun suffered shrapnel injuries, while his pal was killed. He said: “How I came home from the Second World War I do not know. I was so near to the edge of everything. “I lost any amount of friends in no time at all. I just didn’t think I would ever return home. Surviving an explosion when others didn’t was lucky, I guess.” The retired builder was named after the 1916 Battle of Verdun, at the request of his dad Joseph. A Sapper with the Royal Engineers, Joseph had written from the front line to suggest the name to his pregnant wife Mary. Verdun, of Croyde, North Devon, had been due to jump on Saturday but it was postponed due to the weather. The OAP spent two minutes in freefall yesterday before his canopy opened. He landed with a “hooray” at Dunkeswell Airfield in Honiton, East Devon. The youngest family member to skydive with him was great-grandson Stan Hayes, 16. Others making the jump included Verdun’s son Bryan Hayes, 74, grandson Roger Hayes, 50, and greatgranddaughter Ellie Dyke, 21. The family’s skydive has raised more than £1,600 for the Royal British Legion, beating Verdun’s £1,000 target. A spokesman for the charity, which provides support to the UK Armed Forces, said: “We are very proud of Verdun’s achievements and his family’s support for the Royal British Legion.” See uk.virginmoneygiving.com/Verdunhayes.