87-year-old woman with walking difficulties paraglides in Turkey’s Fethiye

MUĞLA

An 87-year-old local woman has impressed social media with her paragliding skills in the Aegean province of Muğla, Doğan News Agency reported on May 21. 

Halime Akcan, a retired worker living in the Aegean province of Denizli, visited her grandson Günay Tutgun, 43, a paragliding pilot, in Fethiye’s Ölüdeniz region last year, only to be refused by him to take on the daring experience. 

Akcan told her grandson that she wanted to paraglide, but was rejected by him many times. But Tutgun eventually gave up saying no to his grandmother.

Tutgun brought his grandmother, who has walking difficulties, to the Babadağ paragliding facility, which is 1,965 meters high.

Tutgun went on a tandem paraglide with his grandmother, recording the experience and later posting it on social media.

He shared the video on his social media accounts showing the two flying. 

In the video Akcan is seen keeping her calm during the paraglide, while she also had a tranquil attitude after she took control of the parachute.  

Tutgun stated that his grandmother was a good pilot and that he learned to fly from her. 

The 87-year-old grandmother sent her greetings to her beloved ones in Denizli from the sky.

The video was watched by at least 500,000 social media users and shared thousands of times on the internet.     

Following a great interest over the video, Tutgun said his grandmother returned to her home in Denizli, saying that he was pleased with the interest. 

“Earlier, I was worried because she has difficulties walking. But I could not resist her insistence. We made the departure in a lovely weather with the help of the wind. So, she did not have to walk or run,” he said. 

He also remarked that his grandmother’s traditional clothes drew attention while she was flying.

“My grandfather died many years ago. So, she sent her greetings to her beloved ones in Denizli. I also had the chance to chat with her in the air,” he added.

Tutgun said there was no age for paragliding, adding that he previously flew with a 93-year-old person. 

“My oldest passenger was 93 years old. I have a friend who flew with a 101-year-old passenger. So, everyone between three to 103 years of age can paraglide. Paragliding is extremely safe and an entertaining sport,” he said.