AN 85-year-old woman has described skydiving from 13,000ft for a hospice as an “absolutely fantastic” experience.

Grania Joinson took the plunge to raise £2,500 for St Richard’s Hospice.

The octogenarian had been due to jump on her 85th birthday – but due to weather conditions, the tandem skydive was postponed to the following week.

“I wasn’t particularly frightened,” said Mrs Joinson, “I was very, very excited about it.

“I looked out and saw this lovely bed of white cloud – I couldn’t see the world so far down, which was probably quite a good thing!

“It was absolutely fantastic because the sun was bright, you could see and it wasn’t cloudy. I was picking out where the club was and where my son was.”

After free-falling at speeds of up to 120 miles per hour, the instructor opened the parachute and the pair floated to the ground – with Mrs Joinson landing on her feet.

“I saw my son and gave him a big hug and I was absolutely inundated with congratulations, people I didn’t know at all came and shook my hand,” she said.

Mrs Joinson, from Malvern, hopes ultimately to raise £3,000 towards the care provided to patients, families and bereaved people by the Worcester-based hospice.

To donate and support Mrs Joinson’s fundraising, visit justgiving.com/fundraising/grania-joinson

Jodi Brandwood, St Richard’s Hospice fundraiser, said: “We are delighted Grania enjoyed her skydive experience and are very grateful to her for all her fundraising.

“It’s an incredible achievement to take on a skydive and to have raised so much in support of our care is testament to Grania’s dedication.”

The hospice is holding its next group skydive on Sunday, September 8. To find out more and sign up visit strichards.org.uk/event/september-skydive.

Mrs Joinson took the plunge at Hinton Airfield, Northamptonshire.