Defibrillator Bid For High-Flying Care Team

Carers at a north Dorset nursing and residential home are preparing to hit the heights in a bid to raise cash to buy a community defibrillator.

Novice free-fallers Becci Hancock and Emily Butler, both healthcare assistants at Colten Care’s Abbey View in Sherborne, will make their 10,000-ft sky dives above Old Sarum airfield near Salisbury.

They will be strapped to separate instructors to guide their descents and reach speeds of around 120 mph before their parachutes open 5,000 ft down.

Becci, who has worked at Abbey View for 12 years, said: “I’ve not jumped before and I’m a bit nervous but also quite looking forward to it.

“We’ve had a lot of interest from colleagues and residents at the home and we’re aiming to organise a mini bus trip for some of them to come along and watch.

“We’re doing this to help raise money to install a public defibrillator at Abbey View for the use of the home and the whole community.

“Early defibrillation can triple a heart attack victim’s chance of survival so it’s a very worthy cause.”

Becci said she hoped the sky dives would raise around £1,300. Other recent events in support of the home’s defibrillator initiative have included a bingo night and an Easter raffle.

The sky dives take place at Old Sarum on Saturday 17 August, 2017. Donations can be made at www.gofundme.com/abbey-view-defibrillator-sky-dive.