Blind Veteran Hits 100mph On Zipwire To Celebrate 90th Birthday

A blind veteran has taken on the fastest zip line in the world for his 90th birthday.

Bob Hill hit speeds of 100mph as he soared over the Welsh countryside, in a bid to raise more than £1000 for charity.

"The feeling of exhilaration was absolutely wonderful. You really felt - wow! And you got to the end of it and all you can think is wow, that's it... I want to do it again."

Bob, who was in the Merchant Navy during World War 2 and earned the Atlantic Cross and the Italy Cross, turned 90 in May and wanted to raise money for Blind Veterans UK.

“90 years old is a significant birthday, so to celebrate I wanted to do something suitably significant! I was going to do a parachute jump but my doctor was having none of it. I was then told about the zip line and thought right, this looks interesting!”

Zip World Velocity in North West Wales is not only the fastest in the world but also the longest in Europe.

A friend suggested the activity as a way for Bob to celebrate turning 90. 

Bob contracted glaucoma in 2012, which developed into age-related macular degeneration (ARMD) and left him with severely limited vision in both of his eyes.

The veteran wanted to try to pay the charity back for helping him to regain his confidence and some independence.

“Well what can I say. My first involvement with the charity was when they invited me onto an introduction course at their Llandudno centre. It was then that I realised what a wonderful organisation it really is.”

To donate, please visit https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/BobHillVelocityZipWire.