Octogenarian does it!

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 6, Issue 294, 11 July 1989, Page 1

Octogenarian does it!

"A bit shaky," was how Charles Levin, at 84 the oldest person ever to try bungy jumping, said he felt after the experience. "I wanted to do it," said Charles, "and now I've done it." The Ohakune New Sensations bungy experts helped Mr Levin leap off the Hapuawhenua Viaduct last Friday, the day after their youngest ever jumper, an eight yearold boy, took the plunge. Turnpage 2

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From page 1 Many of Mr Levin's family were there to help him out on the day, including two grandsons who tried out the leap first. The Levins had been asked if TV cameras and daily newspaper reporters could witness the jump but they declined, because they said it may have made it too hard for Charles to back out if he had wanted to. Mrs Levin said her husband was always doing such things - he's tried white water rafting, been on a scenic flight over Antarctica and once climbed into the cockpit of a Skyhawk for a joy ride, only to be told "no go" by Wellington. He said he was "all togged up" to go on the flight, a process that took more than an hour, when the word came from Wellington that permission was denied. The Levins live on a farm that borders the Ohakea Airbase, which allows Charles honorary membership of Turnpage3

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From page 2 the mess there. As he was preparing for the bungy jump Charles said getting togged up for it was much easier than for the Skyhawk flight, and that the jump was surprisingly comfortable. He chose to jump in a hamess rather than the normal method of being tied to the rubber band by the ankles. "Now all he wants to do is catch a flight to the moon," said Mrs Levin.