A 71-YEAR-OLD dare-devil leapt out of a plane and somersaulted through the air dressed as adventure hero Biggles last week.

Mike Ash, who lives in Hervey Road in Blackheath, was kitted out with goggles and helmet to make the 13,000 foot jump in aid of cerebral palsy charity the Freddie Farmer Foundation.


The grandfather-of-six said: “I loved it all, the build-up, everything. People were saying ‘Are you nervous?’ and I said 'no', I wasn’t nervous, it was exciting.


“He [the instructor] asked me to watch for the red light, then it was time to tuck my legs back, bring my head back, arch my body then whoosh!  I was triple somersaulting through the air. 


“It was very emotional, and an incredible experience, just wonderful.”


The publisher is a cousin of Freddie Farmer who lives in Eltham and was born at 28 weeks old with cerebral palsy, weighing just 21bs 12oz.


He is hoping to raise £10,000 from the jump at Headcorn airfield in Kent.


To sponsor Mike Ash visit http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/MichaelAsh