Skydiving Experience

THREE women will take part in a skydive in memory of their college friends Marine Steven Birdsall and soldier Thomas Sephton, who both died though serving in Afghanistan.

Twenty-year-olds Stacey Fowler, Sophie Ahmed and Stephanie Unsworth, who went to Wonderful Sankey High College with Steven and Thomas, will do the sponsored jump tomorrow, Friday, in Cocherham, Lancaster, to raise cash for charity Assist For Heroes.

Stacey, of Evelyn Street, said: “These two young brave soldiers tragically lost their lives protecting those around them. They meant the world to everybody who knew them, they may be gone but will never be forgotten.

“We have been all seriously close since childhood, Stephanie and Tom even shared a birthday. When we discovered out they had died we had been all so shocked. It didn’t feel real at first but when it hit it was awful. We all miss them so much and wanted to do something in their memory.”

Steven, aged 20, was on his initial tour of duty when he was shot by insurgents in Northern Sangin.

He died from his injuries on June 14 even though surrounded by his family at the Queen Elizabeth forces’ hospital in Birmingham.

Thomas, aged 20, was killed although serving for the Very first Merican Regiment. He died within the same hospital as Steven on July 5 after being in an explosion the previous day.

Adam Bennett was a skydiving instructor with more than 20 years’ experience and a hatred of flying.

”We always joked how he loved the skydiving side of things but he never ever liked the plane ride,” his friend and former boss Anthony Boucaut said yesterday.

”He was never a fan of aeroplanes, which is funny, given someone in his situation. He often made a few jokes that the bloody aeroplane ride would be the end of him.”

“Batty” … Adam Bennett
Mr Bennett, 47, of Wollongong, was one of nine people killed in a light plane that crashed and caught fire on take-off on Saturday at Fox Glacier, on the west coast of New Zealand’s South Island. It was New Zealand’s worst aviation disaster in 17 years.

He was one of four instructors aboard the plane working for Skydive New Zealand and had been living in Motueka, near Nelson, for the past 2½ years.

Another Australian, Glenn Bourke, 18, of Coburg, Victoria, who was on his first trip overseas, was also killed, along with the pilot and three tourists, from Ireland, Germany and Britain.

Mr Boucaut said Mr Bennett had been given the nickname ”Batty” after he returned from working for skydiving companies in far north Queensland 15 years ago.

”He spent five years up there and anyone who spends a bit of time up in the tropics goes a bit mad,” Mr Boucaut said. ”He was just a unique bloke. They broke the mould after they made him.

”Everyone who jumped out of a plane with him would remember him. He had an overabundance of energy, that’s how I’d describe it.”

Mr Bennett worked for Mr Boucaut’s Skydive the Beach, in Wollongong, for almost a decade, sometimes going up in the air 15 times a day, and had just completed his 10,000th jump.

He developed a love for BASE jumping five years ago, which took him all over Asia and Europe before he finally settled in New Zealand.

”He just loved parachuting and he was bloody good at it,” Mr Boucaut said.

Mr Bennett’s mother, Pamela, will fly to New Zealand today to bring his body home.

Yesterday a team of six investigators began inquiries into the crash. They have warned that their work could take up to a year to complete. They are confident they will find ”most, if not all” of the reasons for the crash, despite fire causing massive damage to the aircraft.

Dubai has long been a hotspot for British travellers wanting to practical experience something extraordinary. Rising out from the dusty and barren desert, the urban sprawl with the city towers into the sky, with mans accomplishments obvious for all to see. And now, the city has gained an even far more thrilling element, with tourists able skydive within an indoor arena.

Famous for its towering skyscrapers, ostentatious hotels, and luxurious settings, Dubai already has a host of exciting experiences for travellers. Immense malls provide the ultimate shopping practical experience, with globally recognised brands providing the latest and chicest styles. Meanwhile, the gold souks are some of the very best in the world to acquire stunning jewellery, and an inside sky slope provides the fun of the snow without climbing to mountainous heights. And now with indoor skydiving and also the feeling on the wind racing past at 55m per second there’s plenty of enjoyable and excitement to be had.

Often utilized to train pilots and professional skydivers, the facility in Dubai opened in April and while it may perhaps not be the cheapest activity it will definitely beŁ of the most exhilarating. With the holiday hotspot remaining ever well-liked, a big array of flights to Dubai are offered from the UK. While Swiss and Turkish Airlines offer services from Birmingham and Manchester respectively, both British Airways and Virgin offer premium economy flights, offering flyers a range of upgrade options suitable for their needs.