Born in Dover, England, Ian’s always been a bit of a daredevil - paragliding, parasailing, hot air ballooning, gliding. But his newest challenge takes on extra meaning for him as he raises funds for heart research through the Heart Foundation.

“In June 2019 I suffered a major heart attack. My wife and I were driving back from Paihia and I had intense pain. After being in North Shore Hospital I was transferred to Auckland Hospital for an emergency angiogram. Four stents were inserted and I became well known in the cardiac ward as the man who drove from Paihia to Auckland while suffering a major heart attack.”

Despite one or two initial setbacks, Ian made a good recovery under the care of cardiologists at North Shore Hospital.

After a varied career that included two years in the Royal Air Force, police officer, and diamond driller, Ian and his wife had three children and retired by moving into Arvida Knightsbridge community in 2001.

Ian kept himself busy in the village community as a housie caller, van driver and a regular at outdoor bowls.

Sadly, a year after his heart attack, Ian’s wife was hospitalised with a major heart condition herself and required open heart surgery from which she sadly passed away – adding even more significance to his skydive mission.

“I call my cardiac nurse my guardian angel because she knows I don’t want a longer life but the best quality of life through medication and so far it seems to be working.”

As he prepares for his skydive with his two grandsons joining him, Ian’s not about to sit back and relax in his 90^th year.

“If my driving licence is renewed I will carry on driving. Although I think that's more dangerous than skydiving!”

Ian’s donation page is fundraise.heartfoundation.org.nz/ian-robinson

You can find your nearest Arvida community here.