An 86-year-old Black Isle man is planning to skydive 10,000ft for charity in memory of his granddaughter, who died after a battle with anorexia just days before she turned 20.
Averil Hart, from Suffolk in England, received help for the illness for a year before she left hospital but relapsed three months later, less than a week before her birthday on December 21, 2012.
The English literature student, who was in her first year at the University of East Anglia, was found unconscious by a cleaner in her dorm and was taken to hospital but died three days later.
Her parents Nic and Miranda Hart, are now pursuing the Public Services Ombudsman over alleged failings by local NHS England staff to adequately care for their daughter.
Now her grandfather, David Hart, of Viewfield of Kincurdie, Rosemarkie, plans to test his nerve by jumping from a plane for the first time on August 30.
He hopes to raise money for anorexia charity Beat, which works on the frontline with those suffering Anorexia to find effective ways to tackle and eliminate it.
Mr Hart, who has four children and 12 grandchildren, held a private pilot’s licence for 62 years until a year ago, when he fell and broke his hip and lost the sight in his right eye.
He was taught to fly while he worked as a tea planter in Sri Lanka, by the only Sri Lankan pilot to take part in the Battle of Britain, a man known as Ameraskera.
He was inspired to do the skydive by two other grandchildren, Mica and Freya, who live in New Zealand, who parachuted from 15,000ft last year.
Mr Hart, who will be strapped to an experienced parachutist when he does the skydive, said: “I have never done anything like this before. I am very excited to do it and if I can raise a bob or two for Beat then that would be fantastic. Anorexia is a growing problem among young women and a minority of young men and I think there is a lot of pressure on young women to be slim and look nice.
“Averil was the most bubbly person and was very beautiful too. She was loved by everyone who met her and had hundreds of friends. She was so full of fun and was very keen on the karate. When the family were together in a room she would just unexpectedly burst in wearing her karate uniform and do all of her moves, just to make us laugh.”
Anyone who wishes to donate should contact Mr Hart on 01381 621127 or davidghart@talktalk.net