THE Army Parachute instructor said he had never heard anyone scream so loudly in freefall before.

Ministry of Defence civil servant Claire Winter from Ludgershall, was taking part in her first parachute jump to raise money for the British Limbless Ex-Servicemen’s Association (BLESMA).

“It was so loud I’m sure I could have been heard in Dorset,” said Claire after landing safely on Salisbury Plain strapped to the front of instructor, Dave Pratt.

“There was a definite ‘oh my god’ moment as I shuffled toward the step of the aircraft at 13,000ft above Netheravon looking out over absolutely nothing. Then my drills kicked in - the natural thing to do was to lean my head back into my instructor’s shoulder. I found this reassuring as he was a big bloke. And then the screaming started. Well, that was to help me breathe - it’s cold up there you know.”

Claire, who usually confines her outdoor adventurous activities to hill-walking, decided to raise money for the charity with a tandem parachute jump. It seemed a logical choice as she works next to the Joint Services Parachute Centre in Netheravon managing all civil service posts within Headquarters Theatre Troops.

“It was over very quickly,” she said. “After the noise you experience in freefall as you reach 120 mph, the canopy opens and you float in quiet such as I have never experienced before. It was a sensation overload and I was absolutely overwhelmed. What an adrenalin rush - I want more of that!

“I will remember that Whitsun bank holiday for two reasons - firstly, I raised almost £2,000 for BLESMA, and secondly I did something that has changed my life.”