Skydiving Kay celebrates 90th birthday in style

Skydiving Kay celebrates 90th birthday in style

15 November 2017

KAY Byrne made a shocking suggestion when her family asked how she would like to mark her 90th birthday.

Believing she might like a nice lunch in a golf club or maybe a hotel break, her family was taken aback when she instead said she quite fancied a parachute jump.

After being registered for a skydive before they had a chance to really consider what they were letting themselves in for, three generations of Kay’s family began to tentatively look forward to their adventure in aid of the Alzheimer’s Society. Mrs Byrne’s late husband, Liam, suffered with the illness towards the end of his life.

Mrs Byrne, her daughter Patricia Stewart, from Downpatrick, son Peter Byrne and 16 year-old nephew Ryan Purdy travelled to Garvagh at the weekend to leap from a soaring airplane and raise over £2,000 for the charity.

Patricia admits there were quite a few nerves as they undertook their safety briefing before getting on board their plane, which climbed to 10,000 feet before they were advised to adjust their straps ready to jump.

Amazed by scenery and thrilled by the ride, she said the sky dive was something they would always remember.

She said family had travelled home from across Europe to watch her mum in action and afterwards they had a weekend family gathering.

After surviving the skydive without a bump, Patricia said her mum suffered three fractured ribs later that day when she had an accident.

Although they ended up postponing their prosecco and cake for a couple of days to give Mrs Byrne the opportunity to recuperate, Patricia said her mum was a “resilient woman” who quickly bounced back.

“The worst bit was waiting for our turn as the plane takes 40 minutes to take each person up and disgorge them,” said Patricia.

“It was very noisy going up and there were knots in my stomach but we were distracted by the scenery down below, including Rathlin Island.

“Once my mum went out, I knew I would have to go. We landed without a scratch, but after surviving the jump, she was hurt when a free standing mirror fell on her.”

Patricia said her family would like to thank everyone who supported their sky dive in aid of the Alzheimer’s Society.

“We had great fun planning it as a family and it is super that we have managed to raise over £2,000. We would like to thank all those who have sponsored us,” she said.

Anyone who would like to add to the money raised is invited to do so via the just giving page Kay Byrne: Kay’s 90th Birthday Skydive.