Daring Denis is oldest bungee jumper in Scotland.

Dec 30 2011 by Lisa Boyle, Ayrshire Post (main ed)

THE SKY’s the limit for gutsy pensioner Denis Gallagher.

For the 73-year-old adrenaline junkie is the oldest person in Scotland to do a bungee jump.

Daring Denis plummeted 155 feet at 50 mph as his long-suffering wife Phyllis had her heart in her mouth.

But there was method in the septuagenarian’s madness.

Denis has survived bowel cancer so took the chance to raise money for Ayrshire Cancer Support.

It’s one of many edge-of-your-seat feats by the Girvan man.

He still races motorbikes and has tried sub-aqua diving and even paragliding.

For his next challenge, Denis fancies wing-walking. But he may need to lose a few pounds first.

He said: “You need to be under 12 stone for that and I like my chuck. Maybe I’ll get a touch of gastroenteritis over Christmas and that’ll help.

“A bungee jump is something I’ve wanted to do for years. I wasn’t nervous at all beforehand, I’d do it every day of the week.”

And he explained why he chose to support Ayrshire Cancer Support through the jump.

“I was diagnosed with bowel cancer six years ago and had part of my bowel cut away – I’d rather fall off a motorbike at 100 mph than go through that again.

“I was given the all clear last year. I’m a great believer that if there’s something you have in mind to do, then do it.

“If you wait until tomorrow, it might never come. Of course, you realise this as you become more ancient like me.

“I’m 74 in February – I’m growing old but I’ll never grow up.”

Kath Provan, fundraiser for Ayrshire Cancer Support, was delighted to receive a cheque from Denis for £1800.

She said: “It is wonderful to get support from local people and Denis is quite an inspiration.He really has received wonderful support from family and friends and his donation will be a huge help towards our transport and counselling costs.”

A spokesman for Highland Fling Bungee, where Denis did the jump, said: “We’ve had more than 4000 jumpers since opening in May and Denis is the oldest we’ve had.

“We’re the only facility in Scotland so that makes Denis the oldest jumper in the country.”