Skydiving at 50: Santosh Jacob’s Leap for Love and Charity

Santosh Jacob Puthet’s milestone 50th birthday in Bristol, UK, took him to literal soaring heights— all for a noble cause. A friend’s unusual gift, a skydiving challenge ticket, set him on an unforgettable adventure.

From Bristol, Santosh drove to Salisbury, where expert instructors prepared him for the big leap. Soon, he was 10,000 feet above ground, marveling at the stunning aerial view before the moment of truth arrived.

“It was a 30-second free fall, almost a kilometre of sheer rush, before the parachute opened,” Santosh recalls. “Unlike bungee jumping or rollercoasters, there was nothing to hold onto—it was pure free fall.”

The skydive was not just about adrenaline. It was a heartfelt effort to raise funds for Dementia UK, a dementia nursing charity. Santosh raised £1,650, saying, “This cause is close to my heart. Dementia often marginalises the elderly, and we cannot rely on governments alone. Imagine the impact if a thousand people did something similar.”