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For most people, the idea of skydiving is a scary prospect, but not for Patricia Baker, who decided to celebrate her 90th birthday by jumping out of a plane.
Baker, who has 10 grandchildren, described the 15,000-foot parachute jump as “incredible” and even completed the experience in challenging conditions that diverted her half a mile from her course.
She said that despite the typically creepy feeling that most people get when skydiving, she “wasn’t too worried” because she does 50 sit-ups a day.
Her main motivation for participating was to raise money for two charities close to her heart.
Happy landing! Patricia Baker after her skydiving. (SWNS)
“It felt incredible, a little scary but absolutely incredible.
“I was a bit nervous when I was sitting with my legs off the plane, but then we left.
“It was an incredible experience flying through the air like this.
“I was a bit surprised when the parachute went off because it pulled me back so I’m a bit sore now, although I’ll be fine tomorrow,” Baker said shortly after landing.
Baker, whose husband died in 2016, got the idea to go skydiving after talking to a friend who had a wish list. He encouraged the former factory worker to create his own version of the list.
“I realized I didn’t have one so I thought I’d better think of something to do to celebrate my birthday.
“I always quite liked the idea of skydiving, so I thought, ‘let’s do it then.’
“I had been in a hot air balloon and paragliding before many years ago, but never in anything like this,” Baker said.
Patricia Baker moments before her parachute jump. Due to COVID, she had to delay her July jump, when it was originally planned. (SWNS)
Baker’s doctor did not want to approve his parachute jump due to his age, so he also had to undergo a medical examination at the dive center.
He also had to wait longer than expected to make the dive because the COVID-19 lockdown meant he couldn’t participate in July, when it was originally planned.
Her daughter, Carole, described seeing her mother get off the plane as “stressful.”
She said: “It was very breezy so I was a little worried about that. In fact, it landed half a mile horizontally from where it jumped because it was blown up.
“He was definitely happy when he landed safely. I am very proud of her for doing it, at her age it is quite an achievement.
“Strangely, when he told me he wanted to do it, I wasn’t even that surprised. My mother is very fit and outgoing, she’s amazing. “
