On top of the world ..at 101
D-Day veteran Verdun sets stunning new record
A D-DAY veteran has become the world’s oldest tandem skydiver at 101 years and 38 days old.
Verdun Hayes leapt into the record books yesterday – from a height of 15,000ft.
The daring great-granddad said: “It was brilliant, perfect. I’d do it all again tomorrow. I’ve not felt better in my life.”
Widower Verdun only tried skydiving for the first time last year, at 100 – but the British age record wasn’t enough for him.
He had wanted to do a parachute jump since turning 90 but had been talked out of it by his late wife. So he was also determined to beat the world record, set by Armand Gendreau in 2013 at the age of 101 and three days.
Verdun completed the skydive with three generations of relatives.
He said: “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 served with the Royal Signals during World War II and took part in the D-Day invasion of Gold Beach. He and a friend, Sergeant Edgar Robertson, were digging trenches when a German shell exploded nearby. Verdun escaped with shrapnel injuries but his pal was killed. He said: “How I came home from the 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.”
Verdun, of Croyde in Devon, was due to jump on Saturday but it was postponed due to the weather.
The OAP spent two minutes in freefall yesterday before the canopy opened and he landed with a “hooray” at Dunkeswell Airfield in Devon.
The youngest family member to jump with him was great-grandson Stanley Hayes, 16. Also making the jump were Verdun’s son Bryan Hayes, 74, grandson Roger Hayes, 50, and great-granddaughter Ellie Dyke, 21.
Their efforts raised more than £1600 for the Royal British Legion.