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Falling or flying? Reporters leap from a plane for charity

Two reporters from the Sutton Coldfield Observer took their life in their hands to leap from a plane at 13,000ft in the name of charity.

The event was to make money for the paper’s successful Asthma Aid campaign to fund an asthma nurse – so the sponsors were sought, registration pushed through and it was no time for quitters.

Chief reporter Charlotte Evans (below) said: “I don’t like heights, I’m petrified of anything fast, of going upside down and the last time I went on the rides at Drayton Manor I cried. So the mere thought of jumping out of a plane at 13,000ft made me break out into a cold sweat.”

News editor Lee Kenny (below) was more gung-ho. He’d been counting down to the parachute jump for months and when the day arrived had that “Christmas morning” feeling.

The pair had been reassured at 5,000ft the instructor would pull the main chute. If this didn’t open, he could activate a back-up.

Again, failure to open would mean a reserve parachute would come into use. At 2,000ft from the ground – about ten seconds if you’re still falling at 120mph by this time – an electronic measure would open a fourth parachute…

Charlotte said: “At 13,000ft, the moment came and still I never knew the fear would get to me.

“I’ve never been a particularly religious person, but as we shuffled towards the door I started to pray for dear life that this wasn’t the end. But before I’d reached the end of my prayer, I had rolled off the end of the plane and was falling head first towards the ground at 120mph.

“The speed at which I had exited the plane and the speed at what the plane was flying at meant that for a brief period, I was actually flying.

“There was no sickly feeling, no stomach churning, just me, the instructor and the cameraman floating.

“And then, after 43 very long seconds, there was a sudden jolt, quickly followed by sudden relief as I realised that my wonderful royal blue parachute had opened. I had made it.”

Then there was a safe landing, hugs and kisses all round, and time to catch up with Lee, who had also survived the plunge to earth.

He said: “From the windscreen of the plane I got panoramic views of the countryside below but if anything they just made me more nervous. At 12,000 feet everyone made their exit.

“I was hit by fear, excitement, panic, relief but above all, after the initial shock of leaving the plane, I was struck by an incredible sense of achievement.

“The fear I had felt a few minutes before gave over to the excitement of the moment and it was without doubt one of the greatest things I have ever experienced.

“Back on terra firma, I was ecstatic and tried to put into words what had happened. I didn’t even get close. I’d always dreamt of this.”

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