Lee Gough, Senior Finance Analyst

On Sunday 3 September, I got the opportunity to tackle my greatest fear!! Heights. I completed a 15,000ft Tandem Skydive located in Grange Over Sands.

The thought of jumping out of plane scared me and walking to the plane made my legs feel like jelly. I did run off at one point due to anxiety however the instructor pushed me in the politest way possible. I finally made it on to the plane and was committed once I sat down basically on this bloke’s knee - felt like Christmas “Dear Santa, I want a pony for Christmas”.

The journey up felt like eternity, however, with each minute my nerves were getting stronger, head down trying not to look out the window of the plane. I eventually looked and saw a few clouds which turned my stomach. The door opened and because I was last on the plane, I was first! Great stuff! Yay for me!! Woo woo! NOT.

The thing was making your way across the plane to the door open to the elements. You daggle your legs out the door with all trust and faith in this stranger you knew for a short period on the ground and during the decent to 15000ft. All I could think was “How am I going to breathe, I need to breathe”. Instructor shouts on the count of three we jump! Within one second, he makes that incredible jump into the air! Me screaming for the whole 45 seconds free fall until the parachute opens. The screaming was an incredible stress reliever. The parachute opens and it feels like you stop in mid air, once that parachute settles you glide like a bird back to the ground. For some they say it feels like you’re an eagle or falcon but for me it was more a pigeon with my arms flapping in the wind with excitement and joy. The views were awesome and the feeling you get watching the ground get closer and closer.

Six minutes later you land with a tremendous thump into the landing field. The relief and shock automatically set in and the immense feeling of accomplishment.   

I had my lovely family for support, and I don’t think I would have completed it on my own. If it wasn’t for their support and my amazing father in law for his support by completing the skydive with me.

I enjoyed it that much, I have decided to do this as a hobby. I have signed up to become a student under BPA (British Parachuting Authority) and work towards AFF (Accelerated Free Fall) license which commences April 2024.