Quadruple Bungy Thrills For 75-Year-Old Irish Grandmother

Quadruple Bungy Thrills For 75-Year-Old Irish Grandmother

30th July 2012

75 year old Kathy McDonough from Northern Ireland has been dubbed a real legend by AJ Hackett Bungy crew after she completed all four of their NZ Bungy jumps during the past two weeks.

The gutsy Dubliner, who was on a six-week holiday to New Zealand and Australia to visit family, had experienced her first Bungy two years ago while visiting Queenstown.

“I had never heard of Bungy before I came here and my grandson Keith took me for a walk around the Gondola and the next thing I knew I was jumping off The Ledge.”

For her second trip down under, her grandchildren organized a thrill seeking adventure itinerary that involved a series of surprise Bungy Jumps, much to her delight.

“I didn’t know anything about it but my great grand niece Kim organized for me to do the Nevis along with her new boyfriend which was grand. Then we went up to Auckland and jumped off the Auckland Harbour Bridge as well and I loved it.”

Born in 1937 in Dublin, the spirited 75 year old developed a taste for adventure while hitchhiking around the continent staying in YHA hostels as a young adult. She then spent twenty years living in America before returning to Ireland.

“I love meeting people from all over the world and when my friends took off for America I decided to go too but I always visited home every year.”

Mrs McDonough notched up her fourth Bungy at the original home of bungy, the Kawarau Bridge, on Friday.

“It was really neat because you didn't have to be pulled up again – I really liked that. But the walk back up was the hardest part of all”, she said.

A crowd of impressed onlookers clapped and cheered her and she had some advice for those who have never done a Bungy.

“The time will come when you can’t do this anymore. The alternative is to sit at home and knit and I am not ready for that.”

People over the age of 75 jump for free at AJ Hackett Bungy sites. The oldest person ever to Bungy at the Kawarau Bridge to date is a 94-year-old man from Owaka who jumped three years in a row.

Auckland set a new record last week with an 89-year-old man jumping and the oldest person to jump at the Nevis is 78.

For more information visit www.bungy.co.nz

ENDS

© Scoop Media