DAREDEVIL Ada Newman loved every minute of her tandem skydive as she jumped out of a plane at 13,000ft and fell earthwards at 175mph.

Nothing unusual in that; many people take the plunge to raise funds for charity – but not usually at the age of 89.

“I did enjoy it,” said Ada, from Poole. “I wasn’t scared at all. I have always wanted to do it. The opportunity never came and then when I saw Forest Holme were doing it, I thought I will do it.”

Despite having had two knee replacements, Ada got the go-ahead from her doctor and joined a group of 25 raising funds for the Friends of Forest Holme.

She has supported the hospice charity since her husband Len died there 11 years ago at the age of 77, and raised more than £1,820 in sponsorship from her daring jump.

Despite stern advice from her nephew not to do it again, Ada, who went quad-biking in Australia at the age of 80 and did a bungee jump in her 70s, would love to.

“Specially if I have that nice young chap strapped to me,” she said. “I have always wanted a toy boy!”

Justine Brown, community fundraiser for Friends of Forest Holme, said: “I was absolutely astonished when Ada contacted me to say she wanted to take part in the jump. Her doctor and the airfield declared her ‘fit to jump’ and on the day she was raring to go.

“She took the whole thing in her stride and became a bit of a celebrity, as everyone found her to be a true inspiration and she proved to all of us that you’re never too old to be a daredevil.”

The event has so far raised £13,000 in sponsorship to help the patients and families cared for by Forest Holme and the palliative care unit.