103-year-old grandmother sets world parachute jump record
Tom Rice, a 98-year-old American WWII veteran, approaches the landing zone in a tandem parachute jump near Groesbeek, the Netherlands, Sept. 19, 2019. (AP Photo)


A daring 103-year-old Swedish woman secured the world record for the oldest person to complete a tandem parachute jump on Sunday, describing it as a positive experience regardless of her poor sight.

"It was wonderful to do this, I've been thinking about it for a long time," Rut Larsson told Swedish news agency TT, adding: "It all went as planned."

With family and friends waiting on the airfield below, Larsson completed her jump harnessed to parachutist Joackim Johansson in Motala, 240 kilometers (150 miles) southwest of Stockholm.

The pair sailed down to the ground smoothly, as helpers rushed to Larsson's side with her walker to help her get up.

Asked what she saw and felt as she came down, Larsson replied: "Nowadays I don't see so well, but it felt good."

She said she liked "that you slowly glide down from above, I think it feels nice."

An official from the Guinness Book of World Records was on hand to record the jump.

Larsson, who is 103 years and 259 days old, beat the previous record of 103 years and 181 days.

The new record-holder planned to celebrate the jump "with a little cake."