World's oldest skydiver, 104, dies a week after record-breaking achievement

The 104-year-old woman from Chicago who was named the world's oldest skydiver on Oct. 1 died on Monday, Oct. 9.

PEOPLE Magazine, citing local outlet The Chicago Tribune, reported that Dorothy Hoffner passed away peacefully in her sleep, according to her friend Joe Conant.

Skydive Chicago and the United States Parachute Association also confirmed the news.

“We are deeply saddened by Dorothy’s passing and feel honored to have been a part of making her world-record skydive a reality,” the statement read.

"We are forever grateful that skydiving was a part of her exciting, well-lived life," the organizations added. "Her legacy is even more remarkable because of the attention the world gave to her inspiring story."

Conant was working as a caregiver when he met Hoffner in 2018, The Chicago Sun-Times reported. He recalled informing Hoffner of his plans to go skydiving in 2019, to which she said she also wanted "to go."

"I thought she meant she just wanted to come and watch,” Conant is quoted as saying. “I explained to her what it all entails, and she said, 'Yeah, that sounds great. I want to try it.'"

She made her first jump in 2019 on her centenary without any plans to set any record.

Hoffner made history four years later as the oldest person in the world to successfully complete a skydive. She was joined by a tandem partner named Derek Baxter.

According to a local media report, Skydive Chicago is working with the Guinness World Records to certify her record.