RESIDENTS JUMP OFF THE SKY TOWER

A group of residents from Ryman Healthcare’s Keith Park Retirement Village have braved the bungy jump and perimeter walk at Auckland’s Sky Tower.

Six thrill-seeking residents signed up for the jump, which is a controlled descent from 192m, and three decided to do the walk around the perimeter platform with no handrails separating them from the 53-storey drop!

Helen Lane, 74, had the initial idea after the village team surveyed residents for activity ideas as part of Ryman’s enhanced resident experience initiative.

Helen said doing it with the others was a great encouragement.

“Being in a group you feel like you’ve got to do it!” she said.

And when they learned that on average about half the people chicken out at the top, their 100% jump rate gave them an added boost.

Ralph Martin, 76, volunteered to take the first jump. He took it all in his stride and was grinning from ear to ear on landing. “I’m here!” he said.

Helen was next, who couldn’t believe how quickly it took to get to the bottom.

“It happened so quickly I thought I have got to make the most of this,” she said. “But I closed my eyes at first! I’m so rapt I did it!”

Next up was Trevor Whyte, 75, who had been wanting to do something special for his 75th birthday who made sure to keep his eyes open the whole time.

John Bennett, 75 discovered he was doing the jump only after his friend Ian put his name down, and described it as ‘a bit of a buzz’.

Graham Booth, who at 83 was the most senior of the jumpers, caused quite a stir at the start of his jump.

“The guy said ‘let go, let go’ so I did, but I only let go with one hand!” said Graham.

After hanging on for a couple of seconds he finally let go with his other hand.

For retired NZRAF engineer Ian Curtis, 81, the last jumper of the group, it was a return to the skies of sorts, but a very different kind of flight, and one which certainly got the heart pumping!

The remaining three residents, Wendy and Peter Peacock, 70 and 80, and Helen’s husband Bob Lane, 78, then got suited up to do the Sky Walk.

For some, this is actually the more thrilling activity of the two, as it means being at a great height with no barrier for a lot longer.

While it is still perfectly safe, with walkers attached to a harness and zip line, the adrenalin still pumps around the body nonetheless.

Wendy admitted it was quite terrifying and her smile for the camera was more of a grimace.

“It was very windy and cold up there, and I was glad when it was over!”