Age no Barrier to Wesleyhaven’s 86yr old Bungy Jumper.
Bungy jumping at any age is not for the faint hearted, it can be a scary, risky and potentially dangerous activity. However, for 87 year old Nelson Renner from Wesleyhaven Village, Naenae, the temptation to jump was a challenge that simply had to be taken.
Nelson is normally a careful and prudent man as befits a person who has reached the golden years of 86, so he first sought his Doctor’s blessing for his plans and whilst his Doctor expressed some caution to Nelson’s delight he also said, “There’s no reason why you couldn’t jump... indeed, I would love to see you do it.” To Nelson this encouragement was all he needed, and he replied (possibly without thinking,) “be at the Taupo Bungy jump ... at 1.00pm and you will.” The Doctors words had in Nelson’s mind now become a challenge that he was eager to win.
On the chosen day, at the chosen time, the doctor was unable to attend, but undaunted, Nelson purchased his jump ticket (no doubt taking advantage of the cheaper pensioner rates,) and when asked the options of whether he wanted to be dunked into the water or not, Nelson sensibly replied, “ no dunking please, I don’t want to get my hair wet.....this would have been a good precaution had I enough hair to worry about,” laughs a reasonably bald-headed Nelson. In the event, Nelson’s caution proved unnecessary as a steady drizzle of rain provided the equivalent of a dunking.
Later trussed securely to the bungy cord, Nelson shuffled to the edge of the 47 metre drop over-looking the Waikato River near the picturesque Huka Falls. The view is spectacular, but Nelson was intent on the huge fall opening up at his feet and even though the jump assistant advised, “just go in your own time,” Nelson freely admits that he, “dithered just a bit.”
After making a spectacular jump Nelson was keen to be reunited with a friend who had accompanied him, but this reunion was delayed by hoards of tourists who wanted a word and a picture with their ‘hero.’
Later, Nelson who lives independently at Wesleyhaven Village, admitted that he had done the Taupo bungy jump once before, “I did the jump first on my 80th birthday,” said Nelson, adding that, “just because you are old you don’t have to stop living life to the full.”
Nelson now has a new mantra for life: “Assess (the risks), Dare and Win”
8 November 2007