Charity skydiver, 85, aborts jump over bad weather

Eighty-five-year-old Terri Collins, CEO of The Counselling Partnership, got as far as the plane doors opening before the jump was cancelled

An 85-year-old Surrey woman has had to postpone a charity skydive over dangerous weather.

Terri Collins, from Walton-on-Thames, was set to jump from 15,000ft (4,572m) on Monday to raise funds for The Counselling Partnership – a charity she co-founded more than 25 years ago.

Despite gearing up and boarding the plane, guides decided after opening the doors at 10,000ft that low cloud and high winds would make the jump too dangerous.

Mrs Collins is set to attempt the feat again on 22 August.

Speaking to James Cannon on BBC Surrey, Mrs Collins said she had completed extra safety checks because of her age and was set to fly in the last of four planes set to take part in skydives that day.

"I was called up and ready with my jumpsuit and all the stuff on. Hank, who was my flying instructor, and I walked to the plane, got on the plane, it took off and at about 10,000 feet they opened the doors for another couple who were jumping there.

"All the wind blew in and I remember thinking, oh! Somebody looked over the side and decided it was too cloudy and too dangerous to jump."

Terri Collins completing her first tandem skydive on her 80th birthday, also for The Counselling Partnership

Terri first took part in a tandem skydive for the charity with GoSkydive on her 80th birthday.

The Counselling Partnership is an organisation offering affordable counselling and support for people in Surrey struggling with anxiety, grief and depression, as waiting lists for mental health support on the NHS continue to grow.

"Mental health issues can feel a bit like being on a rough sea, and I like to think that our service and our counsellors get in the boat with you and help guide you to calmer waters," Terri said.