(WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- Dorothy Hoffner, a 104-year-old resident of Chicago's East Lake View community, on Sunday became the oldest person in the world to make a skydive jump.
It was her second jump. This, like her first four years ago, was done with a tandem partner guiding her dive.
“Age is only a number,” Hoffner said modestly.
Still, her skydive surpassed the achievement of a 103-year-old Swedish woman who jumped last year, organizers of Hoffner's attempt said. A large community of family and friends gathered at Skydive Chicago in Ottawa to show support.
“It was wonderful up there,” Hoffner said afterward.
The crowd cheered for Hoffner as she landed, and fellow divers said she was an inspiration. Skydivers typically fall 120 miles per hour to earth, but Hoffner said she doesn’t consider herself a daredevil. She grew up in Humboldt Park and now lives at an assisted-living facility along the lakefront.
Hoffner said she’d love to jump again but wants to ride on a hot air balloon next.
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