A KINGSMEAD resident has leaped 15,000ft in memory of his son who died in a road collision.

Paul Hughes, 52, took part in a skydive on September 1 to raise money for Once Upon a Smile, a charity that provides support to bereaved families.

His son Jack died on December 20, 2014, a week after his 18th birthday after a head-on collision with a lorry on the Davenham bypass.

Paul said: “It was an amazing feeling and a pleasure to take part. Before this I wouldn’t even get on a fairground ride but now I want to do more.

“It’s a hard feeling to describe but when you’re free falling all you can see if the ground coming towards you. I had a slight moment of panic as we got out the plane but after that it was great.

“There wasn’t really much time to think about it. The plane gets up there quickly and they just chuck you out so I didn’t really get nervous.

“This wasn’t something we had months to build up to. I signed up with work and it was pretty much all done in three weeks so to get here so quickly was amazing.”

The dad-of-two had achieved his fundraising target of £1,000 prior to the event and is still accepting donations.

He added: “I did not just lose a special son who I remember and think about every day with a smile, but lost a brother to his sister Grace and a true friend to all that knew him.

“I want to thank everyone for their support and generosity during this. I’m going to keep the Just Giving page open until people stop donating so if please donate to raise much needed funds in memory of Jack.” To donate visit justgiving.com/fundraising/paul-hughes74.