Jumping Jack: The Big Leaaap, before and after!

Before the skydive

“I have never done a skydive before so, on the day, I think I’ll be nervous but I’m sure it’ll sink in when I actually jump out of the plane! I’ve been paragliding before so that’s probably the closest experience I’ve had to a skydive. I have worked for EAAA for over a year as a Community CPR Trainer.

Many of my colleagues have given back to the charity in some way, and I wanted the opportunity to do the same. The Big Leaap is on my birthday, and I’ve always wanted to do a skydive as I am a bit of a thrill seeker, so it feels like fate. I see the impact of the charity’s work every day, and I feel passionate about raising awareness of cardiac arrests and CPR training, which is a big part of EAAA’s role in the community. I’m hoping to raise £300 in aid of the charity, anything over this will be a bonus.

I’m most looking forward to the build-up to the skydive, which I’m doing at Beccles in Suffolk. I’m sure my heart will be going as the plane takes off and, in the moment when my feet are hanging out of the plane, I will think, ‘I can’t back out now!’ Free falling from 13,000 feet will be a short experience, but an exciting one.

After the skydive

“Mentally, I was quite prepared for it on the day. When I woke up, I didn’t feel nervous, but I noticed my leg was shaking on the journey to the airfield! I arrived half an hour before my flight was due; it was when other skydivers were landing, so things then started to feel more real.

There was a bit of waiting while the skydiving organisers waited for perfect conditions, before I was called for a safety briefing and harness fitting. I was told how to land, the harness was checked, and I was introduced to my skydiving instructor, Gareth, for my tandem jump. I had my own cameraman too; he was actually a plumber in his day job but had caught the skydiving bug a few years ago after also taking part in a jump for a charity. He loved it so much that he went on to become an instructor.

When I was called to the plane with other skydivers and a fellow Big Leaaaper, we had to go in a particular order because the solo skydivers would be jumping first followed by the tandem jumpers. The time in the plane took about 15 minutes. At 1,000ft I looked out of the window; it already felt that we were very high, and we still had to go up to 13,000ft! From that point, it felt like we gained altitude quickly before the final safety checks were carried out.

We circled over Beccles Airfield. Above the shutter on the door was a green light and a red light. On each green light, the solo skydivers jumped one by one. It was almost my turn!

Gareth and I, strapped together, slid down to the edge of aircraft while our cameraman was hanging on the edge outside. We all waited for the right time to jump. I had to hang my feet outside the aircraft, hold onto my harness and tilt my head back.

Then we jumped – and it was like no other feeling!

We were free falling at 130mph for seven seconds before a mini parachute came out. We were then in free fall for about 50 seconds. I couldn’t hear anything, so when the main parachute was released, it was a bit of a surprise jolt! Then it was wonderfully peaceful with incredible scenic views over the Norfolk and Suffolk countryside and coastline. As we neared the ground, I looked out for a large orange arrow on the ground which indicated the landing area. I even spotted my colleagues in the distance.

Overall, it was a truly exhilarating experience; I’ve never experienced anything else like it and honestly think that free falling at 130mph is something that as many people as possible should do – and it’s a great way to raise money in aid of EAAA to help saves lives in our region. To date, the 16 people who have taken part in May’s Big Leaaap have raised over £8,000 – enough money to fund two life-saving taskings.

I can also now say that I did a skydive on my birthday. Who knows, maybe I’ll do a wing walk next year!…”