Skydiving 75-year-old hopes to keep defying doctors

Patricia Denton says she trained in at an indoor skydiving centre in Singapore ahead of her jump

A 75-year-old woman said she wanted to continue defying doctors when she jumped out of a plane at 12,000ft (3,657m).

Patricia Denton, from Southend-on-Sea, overcame breast cancer and a broken back to lead a life of adrenaline-fuelled activities.

Having marked her 70th birthday white water rafting along the Grand Canyon, her latest task saw her plunge from the sky.

Ms Denton said it was only right that her latest challenge was perhaps her most daring.

She landed safely back on the ground after her tandem parachute jump at Headcorn Aerodrome in Ashford, Kent, on 6 May.

"It was quite amazing, all I could feel myself saying was 'wow'," she told BBC Essex.

"When I got down to the ground I said 'yeah, I want to do it again'.

"I thought I’d get nervous in the plane but actually I got excited and it was really good."

'Living the dream'

The adventurous 75-year-old said her efforts were raising funds for Age Concern Southend's community hub.

"I am having a fabulous time - living the dream - and I would like to give back," she added.

Ms Denton said friends from across the globe - including in Canada and Australia - had donated to her fundraiser.

She added: "It humbles me that people all over the world are doing this because I'm doing this – and I'm doing it because I want the community hub to succeed."

The adrenaline junkie said she planned to do a wing walk - where someone moves along the wings of an aeroplane during flight - for her 80th birthday.