Retired doctor from Hawkchurch marks her 80th with a skydive
Skydiving Dr Rachel Mackenzie, aged 80 - Credit: Archant
A retired GP who marked her 80th birthday with a skydive has described the experience as ‘breathtaking’.
Skydiving Dr Rachel Mackenzie, aged 80 - Credit: 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.
Skydiving Dr Rachel Mackenzie, aged 80 - Credit: Archant
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“It was a thrilling experience - I saw all the country spread out beneath me.
“It was wonderful, truly breathtaking.”
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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.