Colchester Hospital nurses parachute jump with Red Devils

A group of 18 nurses and healthcare assistants from Colchester Hospital’s critical care unit took on the skydive to raise vital funds for their ward and the Support Our Paras charity.

Maria Wallis, one of the jumpers taking on the challenge, said the experience was like “nothing she’d ever done before”.

All the gear - Maria Wallis preparing for her jump (Image: Supplied)

“Everyone had the best day, and the weather was perfect,” said Maria.

Team - 18 nurses and healthcare assistants were joined by the Red Devils (Image: Supplied)

The 42-year-old nurse from Wivenhoe added: “The skies were really clear – we were very lucky. It was a beautiful view, and we could see the curvature of the earth.”

Ready - Everyone looked the part in their jumpsuits (Image: Supplied)

It was a long day for the team, who set off on their journey from Colchester to Netheravon Airfield, Wiltshire, at 4am last Friday.

Expert instructors - Each team member completed the jump with a member of the Red Devils (Image: Supplied)

On arrival they met their instructors – none other than the British Army’s parachute display team The Red Devils, who completed essential training with the nurses before flying them in groups of six to 13,000 feet.

Listen up - The team received training from the Red Devils (Image: Supplied)

In the sky - The team flew to 13,000 feet (Image: Supplied)

After reaching the right altitude, each team member completed a 45-second freefall while strapped to their Red Devils instructor, followed by a four-to-five-minute parachute descent.

Thumbs up - It was all smiles on the airfield (Image: Supplied)

Asked if she’d do it again, the answer was simple for Maria: “Absolutely.

“I’d have gone straight back up the minute my feet touched the ground if I could.”

Thrill - The team enjoyed the good weather before the jump (Image: Supplied)

The challenge was inspired by Keith Cameron, better known as Ned.

The retired paratrooper started working as a healthcare assistant at the hospital during the Covid pandemic and insisted if his colleagues were going to do the jump, they had to do it with the best in the business.

Together - Sunglasses were definitely needed on a warm day (Image: Supplied)

So far, the team has raised around £4,000 for the two causes.

The funds raised for Support Our Paras will help the charity to look after veterans, serving soldiers, and families within the airborne community, while the critical care unit will benefit from new equipment.

Colleagues - The team consisted of nurses and healthcare assistants from Colchester Hospital's critical care unit (Image: Supplied)

Off we go - After an early start the team prepared for their jump (Image: Supplied)

To add to their total, visit justgiving.com/fundraising/Colchester-ITU-Nurses-Tandem-Jump.