Bereaved dad's charity skydive after death of baby

Daniel Hancock raised £420 for East Kent Hospitals Charity through his skydive

A bereaved father has completed a 12,000ft skydive to fundraise for the Kent hospital which helped him following the death of his baby son.

Daniel Hancock, 45, from Ramsgate, raised £420 for East Kent Hospitals Charity – which fundraises for East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust.

The parachute jump was in memory of Daniel Jr, who died when his mother, Louise Collier, was 18 weeks pregnant.

Mr Hancock praised the maternity bereavement service at Margate's Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother Hospital (QEQM) for "allowing us to make memories with our little boy".

"The amazing team at QEQM's maternity bereavement service and Ocean Suite took photos, handprints and footprints, and helped us to make precious memories," he said.

"Without this service we would never have been able to have these moments with him."

The Ocean Suite is a dedicated space for parents to spend time with their baby, supported by specialist bereavement midwives, away from the maternity wards.

QEQM's bereavement team also continues to support families once they leave hospital.

Mr Hancock added that their help had continued up until the couple welcomed their daughter Jessie last December and beyond.

"So this is just our way of giving a little back in recognition of everything they've done for us, and every other person who goes through this," he added.

The couple has also given their daughter the middle name Emma after bereavement midwife Emma Barritt, who they described as "wonderful".

Ms Collier said: "We are so pleased to have raised money for the Ocean Suite, it has meant a lot to us.

"We hope it can help towards others in similar situations."