94-year-old B.C. man skydives with grandson for Father's Day
'It was on my bucket list. I had to do it,' said Patrick Allen
Meet Patrick Allen. He's 94-years-young and from Gabriola Island, B.C. Instead of giving him a new gadget or tie for Father's Day, his children took a flying leap and gifted him a skydiving lesson.
"It was on my bucket list. I had to do it," said a gleeful Allen, who jumped with his grandson, Michael, near Qualicum Beach on Sunday.
"It just thrilled me all to pieces when he said he wanted to do it with me."
Skydive Vancouver Island says Allen is the oldest person to skydive with them.
Allen says he wasn't afraid at all when he took that initial look outside the plane.
"It's hard to describe. It's a free fall from 15,000 feet to 5,000 feet in 35 seconds and then luckily the chute opens," he said.
"I thought, 'What a beautiful view.' The adrenaline rush was on and I said, 'Let's go.'"
This was Allen's second time diving. He first skydived for his 90th birthday in Mesa, Arizona.
When he first told his family he wanted to do it, he says they called him a "silly old fool."
"My kids talked me out of it because they said at your age, you'll probably break a leg and never get better again."
But he loved the experience and says there are already plans in the works for a third jump on his 100th birthday.
