Kerala’s 71-Year-Old Leela Jose Skydives, Inspires All

Idukki district of Kerala is celebrating an extraordinary feat that proves age is no barrier to adventure. Leela Jose, a spirited 71-year-old resident of Konnathady, has etched her name in history by becoming the oldest woman from Kerala to complete a tandem skydive from a staggering 13,000 feet—a dream she had nurtured for years.

For Leela, the fascination with skydiving began as a simple daydream. Watching airplanes soar high above her hometown, she would casually tell friends, “How thrilling it would be to skydive one day!” Initially, her friends laughed and dismissed the idea as impossible for someone her age. But Leela’s determination never wavered.

The long-awaited opportunity arrived last month during a visit to Dubai, where she was spending time with her son, P. Anish, a civil engineer based in Karama. When Leela voiced her wish to experience a skydive, Anish thought she was joking. “He thought I had gone senile,” Leela confessed. But once her seriousness became clear, Anish arranged a tandem jump with Dubai’s certified skydiving team. The instructors themselves were amazed to see a 71-year-old woman ready to take the leap.

A tandem skydive, for the uninitiated, involves a student being securely strapped to a professional instructor, sharing a single parachute system, making it one of the safest ways to experience freefall for first-timers. Anish spent nearly ₹2 lakh to cover the flight, instructor’s fees, and professional videography to capture the moment.

Leela described her jump as a whirlwind of emotions. “The freefall was a mix of exhilaration, fear, and pure joy. At one point, I felt completely weightless and let go of all thoughts,” she recalled. When the parachute opened at 6,000 feet, she felt an overwhelming sense of safety and achievement.

Back home in Idukki, Leela shared photos and videos of her daring adventure. Her friends, who initially reacted with disbelief, were soon inspired and embraced her courage, praising her unwavering determination.

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When asked about future ambitions, Leela’s adventurous spirit shone through once again. “I wish to go to space, if possible. If age is not a hindrance, I hope ISRO will consider my dream,” she said. She credits her late father, Maanikutty, an Indian Army officer, for instilling in her the courage to attempt the extraordinary.

Leela’s accomplishment comes shortly after another remarkable milestone. In July, Dr. Shraddha Chauhan, mother of retired Brigadier Saurabh Singh Shekhawat, became the oldest Indian woman to complete a tandem skydive, leaping from 10,000 feet on her 80th birthday at Skyhigh India in Narnaul, Haryana. “The desire to soar through the sky like an airplane, that I held in my heart, has finally been fulfilled by my son,” Dr. Chauhan expressed with pride.

The stories of Leela Jose and Dr. Shraddha Chauhan serve as a testament that thrill-seeking adventures are not confined by age. Their feats are inspiring generations, reminding us that courage, determination, and dreams have no limits.