VIDEO and INTERVIEW: Daredevil great grandad takes on world's fastest zip wire for Lancaster hospice

Tuesday, 13 August 2024 17:01

By Greg Lambert @greglam72

David Aris during his Zip wire experience. Image from Zip World.

A daredevil great-grandad, 94, from Kendal has flown through the air on a zip wire at a height of 500m and speeds of 100mph to raise money for a Lancaster hospice.

David Aris took a trip on Zip World Velocity, where thrillseekers are strapped in and 'fly' horizontally along a 1.5km wire surrounded by the stunning mountains of North Wales.

Mr Aris took on the Zip Wire in memory of his late wife June, who was cared for by St John's Hospice before she died.

"My wife was on the ward at the hospice for five weeks, I was there with her," said David.

"We came home to Kendal and the hospice looked after my wife incredibly well until she passed away. I feel indebted to that place."

The video of his Zip World experience went viral and so far he has raised more than £8800 for St John's Hospice in online donations.

Retired marine engineer David, who is also a hospice volunteer, has three children, seven grandchildren and four great grandchildren.

He was accompanied by his friend Narelle Kilby, 70, from Morecambe to take on Europe's longest zip wire after they met as members of a bereavement group.

LISTEN to our interview with David and Narelle

David and Narelle are pictured below during their visit to the Beyond Radio studio.

"I didn't know much about it but Narelle had done it some two or three years ago, and I thought that's something I could do, so we decided to do it together," said David.

"I'm 94 and they said I'm the oldest person who's ever done this.

"When we went down on the 29th of last month we got the royal reception!

"We were three quarters of a way up a mountain. You're horizontal, as if you're lying on a bed. All of a sudden you shoot out at nearly 100mph.

"It only takes about one and a quarter minutes, just over a mile long."

WATCH as David takes on the world's fastest zip line.

94 year old David flies at 100mph on the world's fastest zip line
94 year old David showing us all how it's done on the world's fastest zip line! Link to David's fundraiser is in the comments if you're able to help him reach his target, in memory of his wife June ❤️
Posted by Zip World on Thursday, August 1, 2024

David also spoke about how he met Narelle.

"We were part of a bereavement group. Ten of us had lost husbands or wives all at the same time. We've stuck together ever since."

Narelle, who has three sons and seven grandchildren, is a self-confessed "adrenaline junkie".

The two friends have also done sky diving and Narelle said her next ambition is to do a wing walk on a plane!

David said somebody has suggested he should do deep sea diving next!

But he said: "I'm getting a bit beyond doing anything physical now!"

Zip World Velocity is located in Penrhyn Slate Quarry near Bethesda in North Wales.

Here is David pictured getting ready for his Zip Wire experience.