AN 81-year-old diabetic who doesn’t like heights has completed a skydive despite pressure from his family not to go ahead.

Stephen Chadwick, from Wesley Close, Birstall, did the dive despite having to wait more than four hours for the wind to die down and felt a “bit queasy” through lack of food when his turn came.

Mr Chadwick was raising money for a powered wheelchair for his grandson’s friend, William Jackson, from Wakefield.

William has muscular dystrophy and requires a wheelchair to get around outside and at college.

“I wanted to get that lad a powered chair and if the dive went wrong and I broke my leg I would have done it again.

“We had to wait for ages for a slot and I was getting queasy because I hadn’t eaten since breakfast. I thought we were jumping at 12.30pm and would then be going to Filey for fish and chips but it was nearly 5pm when we got up there,” he said.

“The man attached with me was brilliant but he didn’t know I was feeling unwell. He spun me round to look at Whitby and then again to the Humber Bridge. I thought to myself I hope he doesn’t show me York Cathedral,” he quipped.

Mr Chadwick, a former landscape gardener, lost his brother to he condition aged 21.

“He was a lot worse than William and couldn’t even hold a cup of tea but he always said he would live until he was 21 and died four days after he celebrated his birthday.

“I really wanted to raise some money for William and Muscular Dystrophy UK because they need a lot of money for research.

Speaking about his experience he said he didn’t really enjoy the waiting around.

“The skydivers going up with us said it was too windy and I was worried about having to go home and say we couldn’t do it. It was the pilot who said come on let’s go up.

“I’d got my family to make the booking for me because I was determined to do it. They did try and put me off because I’ve had a fe health problems but I was naughty and said if they didn’t help me I’d find someone who would.

“I wanted to raise money. I couldn’t manage to walk the Three Peaks and jumping out of a plane was only going to be half an hour of a job so I went for that.

“It was a shame I was feeling queasy because I can’t say I really enjoyed it, but I would do it again for the lad,” said Mr Chadwick.

Williams’s dad, Stewart Jackson said he was humbled that Mr Chadwick went ahead with the feat.

“It’s an amazing thing to do by an 81-year-old. A powered wheelchair costs around £8,700 and we want to raise awareness for the condition too.

Anyone wishing to donate to Mr Chadwick’s skydiving feat can still do so through the fundraising page set up by William’s family which can be found at: https://bit.ly/2IX6nQW.