JUMPING out of a plane is enough to spark fear in most people… but a group of Colchester nurses has found the perfect instructors.

A team from Colchester Hospital’s critical care unit is taking on a parachute jump overseen by none other than the Red Devils.

The challenge was inspired by Keith Cameron, a retired paratrooper, who started working as a healthcare assistant at the hospital amid the Covid pandemic.

Maria Wallis, one of the 18 colleagues taking the jump, said she is feeling “trepidation and nerves” but added the team all “really wanted to do it”.

Gazette: Inspired - Keith 'Ned' Cameron, pictured with his colleagues Georgina Adam and Harlene Gallardo, was the inspiration behind the challengeInspired - Keith 'Ned' Cameron, pictured with his colleagues Georgina Adam and Harlene Gallardo, was the inspiration behind the challenge (Image: Maria Wallis)

“For some of us it's a bit of a bucket list thing, and for others, it's a real challenge,” explained Maria.

The skydivers are hoping to raise £5,000 for the Support Our Paras charity after getting to know their ex-paratrooper colleague, who is lovingly known as Ned.

Wivenhoe-based Maria, 42, said her colleague is “amazing”.

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She added: “He's just really rolled his sleeves up and got stuck into a job that he's never done before.

“It’s a completely new area of work for him which is pretty tough, and he's been amazing. He has helped us organise this jump.”

Maria and her colleagues also sought to raise £500 to go towards new equipment for the critical care unit – a target they’ve already smashed through.

The nurses will be heading to Netheravon, Wiltshire, to take on the jump on Friday, June 2.

Gazette: Jump - Christine Joyce, Sarah Jones, and Maria Wallis will be jumping with the Red DevilsJump - Christine Joyce, Sarah Jones, and Maria Wallis will be jumping with the Red Devils (Image: Maria Wallis)

The funds raised for Support Our Paras will help the charity to look after veterans, serving soldiers, and families within the airborne community.

Ned insisted if his colleagues were going to do the jump, they had to do it with the best, and he helped to arrange for the team to take on the challenge alongside the Red Devils, the British Army’s parachute display team.

Lani Chilver, another nurse taking part, said: “After everything we've worked over the last couple of years, it’s so good to be doing something fun and out of my comfort zone while having an opportunity to raise money for charities close to home.”

Donations can be made by visiting the team’s JustGiving page.