It took about two years to be able to fulfill a great desire that he had cultivated since he was a child, but in the end Gianfranco Ciavattella, from Montesilvano (Pescara) armed with courage and a spirit of adventure, made it. He, who is forced to live in a wheelchair due to a debilitating leg disease, launched himself from 4200 meters in height in a tandem flight, supported by the pilot and instructor of the ASD “Fly For Fun DZone”, Santiago Calzolari . His nephew Massimiliano, a graduate of the Folgore Brigade, pushed him into the courageous undertaking.
“It was the promised gift for my uncle’s 50th birthday – confided the young Italian Army soldier – and thanks to the preparation and expertise of the parachuting school in Molinella, in the province of Bologna, we were able to give this indescribable emotion both to him and to all the staff.” Over a minute of free fall at a speed of around 200 km/h, to then begin the descent and landing phase in complete safety thanks to a special harness. All filmed and documented by the videomaker Francesca Di Palma, with the technical and organizational support of the instructor Massimo Di Pietro and the president of Skidive Flygang, Riccardo Salardi.
At the end of this exceptional adventure, Gianfranco made a few but significant statements: “What I felt is difficult to tell. A charge of adrenaline and a very strong feeling that I never imagined I could experience. I have learned over time to live with my permanent disability, but I never set limits for myself. Previously, my other nephew Davide, now a chef in Toronto, hosted me in Capri where he worked and I will soon join him in Canada. I thank my family and in particular my brother Giulio for the affection and attention they reserve for me every day and for the many surprises to which I am not used to”.
Tags: disabled person Montesilvano jumps parachute Piazza Rossetti
