A retired GP who marked her 80th birthday with a skydive has described the experience as ‘breathtaking’.

Midweek Herald: Skydiving Dr Rachel Mackenzie, aged 80Skydiving Dr Rachel Mackenzie, aged 80 (Image: Archant)

Dr Rachel Mackenzie, of Hawkchurch, did the tandem jump to raise money for the Devon Air Ambulance on Saturday, January 14.

Strapped to an instructor she leapt from a plane at 15,000ft after taking off from Dunkeswell airfield.

Afterwards she told the Herald: “I didn’t want any present for my 80th - which was on January 3 - so thought it would be rather nice to give a present instead.

“Being a doctor myself, I thought the air ambulance would be a wonderful thing to subscribe to - it does marvellous work.

Midweek Herald: Skydiving Dr Rachel Mackenzie, aged 80Skydiving Dr Rachel Mackenzie, aged 80 (Image: Archant)

“It was a thrilling experience - I saw all the country spread out beneath me.

“It was wonderful, truly breathtaking.”

So far, Dr Mackenzie’s skydive has raised around £1,500 for the flying medics.

Anyone who wants to add to the fund should visit the air ambulance website https://www.daat.org/ and follow the links for donations to the Rachel Mackenzie collection.

Dr Mackenzie worked alongside her late husband Donald, also a doctor, in countries around the world, including Rumania where she was a volunteer medic helping to treat the street children.