• News
  • Film and TV
  • Music
  • Tech
  • Features
  • Celebrity
  • Politics
  • Weird
  • Community
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
TikTok
YouTube
Submit Your Content
104-year-old woman dies days after attempting to break oldest skydiver record

Home> News> US News

Published 10:30 11 Oct 2023 GMT+1

104-year-old woman dies days after attempting to break oldest skydiver record

Dorothy Hoffner jumped out of a plane earlier this month, sadly she has been found dead just days afterwards.

Callum Jones

Callum Jones

Featured Image Credit: Instagram/@shelleyzalis

Topics: US News

Callum Jones
Callum Jones

Advert

Advert

Advert

Dorothy Hoffner, a 104-year-old woman from Chicago, has sadly died just days after attempting a rather impressive sky diving record.

Dorothy was all smiles when she made her history-making jump in the skies above Ottawa, Chicago, earlier this month.

The 104-year-old hopped into a plane in northern Illinois, climbing to a rather impressive height of 13,500 feet.

Strapped to a dive instructor, the pair jumped out of the plane, enjoying a few seconds of free fall before the parachute was deployed.

They spent a total of seven minutes in the air, before touching on solid ground at Skydive Chicago, with the centenarian shouting 'age is just a number'.

Advert

Dorothy told the Chicago Sun-Times: “What has age got to do with what you’re doing? I’m 104 years old, so what?”

A spokesperson for the Guinness Book of World Records said they were looking 'forward to receiving evidence from Dorothy’s attempt for our Records Management Team to review' - meaning a potential world record was on the cards for Dorothy.

Dorothy Hoffner skydived out of a plane earlier this month.
Instagram/@shelleyzalis

The current record belongs to 103-year-old Linnéa Ingegärd Larsson from Sweden after she bravely jumped out of a plane in May last year.

Advert

Unfortunately, Dorothy will not be around to see if she has beaten the Guinness World Record, as she was found dead at the Brookdale Lake View senior living community.

Dorothy's close friend, Joe Conant, said that the 104-year-old died in her sleep on Sunday (8 October) night, paying tribute to her in an emotional statement.

He told AP News: "She was indefatigable. She just kept going. She was not someone who would take naps in the afternoon, or not show up for any function, dinner or anything else. She was always there, fully present. She kept going, always."

Meanwhile, Skydive Chicago has released a statement, saying: "We are deeply saddened by Dorothy's passing and feel honored to have been a part of making her world-record skydive a reality.

Advert

"Skydiving is an activity that many of us safely tucked away in our bucket lists. But Dorothy reminds us that it's never too late to take the thrill of a lifetime.

The 104-year-old died over the weekend.
Instagram/@shelleyzalis

"We are forever grateful that skydiving was a part of her exciting, well-lived life. Her legacy is even more remarkable because of the attention the world gave to her inspiring story."

Dorothy was set to turn 105 in December and she was planning to ride in a hot air balloon to celebrate.

Advert

A memorial service for her will be held in November.

Choose your content:

29 mins ago
an hour ago
2 hours ago
  • 29 mins ago

    Someone who invested $7,793 into Bitcoin 14 years ago and only just accessed it is now worth a staggering amount

    After 14 years of lying dormant, two bitcoin wallets holding 10,000 bitcoin each were activated this week

    News
  • an hour ago

    Elon Musk reveals 'two-part plan' to take control of US Congress with 'America Party'

    The Tesla boss has a new idea to shake up politics in the US

    News
  • an hour ago

    Expert issues urgent warning for anyone thinking about travelling whilst on Ozempic or Mounjaro

    Those on Ozempic or Mounjaro may face problems abroad if they don't declare it

    News
  • 2 hours ago

    YouTuber Nikocado Avocado shares shocking results of plastic surgery after 250lb weight loss

    Nikocado explained that following his weight loss, he sought the help of a plastic surgeon

    News
  • 22-year-old college student tragically dies from eating peanuts just days after graduating
  • 16-year-old boy dies just days after developing sore throat and cough
  • Tourist who was trapped 1,600ft down active volcano for days tragically dies before rescuers get to her
  • Girl, 7, dies after 92-year-old driver 'accelerated instead of braking'