A transatlantic tussle is underway between two centenarians – to determine who is the world’s oldest skydiver!<br /><br />Officially, the record is held by British D-Day veteran Bryson Hayes, known as Verdun.<br /><br />He made it into the Guinness Book of Records) by taking the plunge in May, at the grand old age of 101 years and 38 days.<br /><br />Oldest tandem parachute jump (male) | Guinness World Records<br />www.guinnessworldrecords.com<br />The Guinness World Records Official site with ultimate record-breaking facts & achievements. Do you want to set a world record? Are you Officially Amazing?<br /><br />Verdun jumped out of a plane from a height of 15,000ft over Devon in southwest England, raising thousands of pounds for the Royal British Legion charity in the process.<br /><br />Congratulations to Verdun Hayes, the world’s oldest skydiver AndreaOrmsby BBCDevon pic.twitter.com/urwRFQ2TbA— BBC Georgey Tonight (@GeorgeyTonight) 15 mai 2017<br /><br />On Monday, Verdun was presented with his world record certificate and treated to a surprise military guard of honour to recognise his achievement.<br /><br />The great grandfather only took up skydiving to celebrate his 100th birthday. And he loves it!<br /><br />“It was beautiful! I was not afraid,” he said.<br /><br />“No fears, no nothing…you just dive out of the plane and just hope the parachute opens.”<br /><br />A Gurkha Guard of Honour welcome for Verdun Hayes. The 101 yr old world record skydiver from Devon raising £3500 for PoppyLegion #HeartNews pic.twitter.com/Qs7icUb9lL— Heart Cornwall News (HeartCornNews) 31 juillet 2017<br /><br />Verdun has been brought down to earth with a bump however. <br /><br />A 102-year-old American has just laid claim to his world record, having made a tandem jump of his own.<br /><br />Kenneth Meyer from New Jersey made his big leap just last week and was quoted as saying in the local media: “I’m doing this for the USA”.<br /><br />102-year-old N.J. daredevil becomes world’s oldest skydiver https://t.co/O2whF7XnkC #skydive #Centurion #seniors #SeniorLiving #NewJersey pic.twitter.com/IkScwVyNQR— Robert Sciarrino (@SciarrinoRobert) 28 juillet 2017<br /><br />But fear not, on the UK side of the Pond… <br /><br />If Verdun’s rival’s jump is recognised, the plucky Brit is willing to take to the skies again.<br /><br />“I’d do it again tomorrow!” he said.<br /><br />He may prefer to wait until he has celebrated his 103rd birthday!<br />
