Birthday skydive at 95: 'IT'S A PIECE OF CAKE!'

Blowing out candles was too tame for this adventurer, who took the plunge for a good cause

- Ruth Jillings

Every five years since her 85th birthday, Jean Crabtree has taken to the skies to celebrate by leaping out of a plane 12,000 feet (3657 metres) above Tauranga – and turning 95 wasn’t going to stop her.

Proving age is no barrier to adventure, she rounded up 18 of her family and friends to jump with her, marking her April milestone skydiving with a charitable twist.

Describing the skydive as “a piece of cake”, Jean says, “I wasn’t scared at all.”

When asked why she wanted to skydive, Jean chuckles, “For the hell of it. If there’s a challenge, I’ll go for it. If anybody dares me, I’ll do it. After the jump, I had a choice to take the bus or go on the back of [friend] Tomas’ motorbike, so of course I went on the motorbike!”

Jean is thrilled at how much her fellow jumpers enjoyed the experience. At 96, former gymnast, friend and village resident John Rowlandson was the oldest jumper and a first-timer who described the experience as “magic”.

“He did two somersaults on the way down and couldn’t sleep that night for the sheer pleasure of reliving the experience.”

Jean, who lives at Greenwood Park Retirement Village, is motivated by her competitive streak and is always up for a challenge.