Dare devil mum Yvonne Parker has spoken after completing a terrifying 12,000ft parachute leap to raise money for the hospital which miraculously saved her son's life.

In November it was revealed that Yvonne, 41, of Burntwood Close, Billericay, was taking on the amazing parachute challenge with the support of the Red Devils.

Yvonne was hoping to use the skydive to raise £1,000 for Cambridge's Addenbrookes Hospital which helped her 18-year-old paratrooper son Glenn recover from life threatening head injuries.

The brave mum, who is in fact scared of heights, had expected only to jump from 10,000 ft, but due to the weather had to face up to an assisted leap from 12,000ft.

She said: "We had been told that it might not go ahead because the weather over Salisbury Plain was too bad, but then the Red Devils said they would go ahead with it.

"It took approximately 20 minutes to reach 12,000ft, I felt so scared, but I wasn't going to admit this to the instructor who was strapped behind me.

"My heart raced when the side door opened, the sky was blue, the sun was large, but it was freezing and very windy.

"I had to dangle my legs over the side, that was when I saw the clouds below.

"By this time I was petrified and I just closed my eyes and prayed.

"I cannot tell you the tremendous relief I felt when the parachute opened at 5,000ft or express the feelings that enveloped me.

"Glenn I know was proud of his old mum, even though he could hear my screams before he could see me falling through the sky."

Glenn, a paratrooper in 'C' Company of the 3rd Batallion based in Colchester, is viewed as a "walking miracle" by staff at Addenbrookes after his recovery from complex brain surgery.

The former Billericay School pupil needed 24 hour care at the hospital after suffering horrendous injuries following a serious assault in Thetford in September.

Glenn's army colleagues actually picked her up from her Billericay home and drove her down to Salisbury Plain for the jump and she says her workmates at Anglia Polytechnic University .in Chelmsford have also been tremendous.

Yvonne hopes the money she has raised will go towards a machine similar to the one which kept Glenn alive.

Anyone who would like to make a donation can call Yvonne on 01277 651906.

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