A YOUNG couple have jumped out of a plane from 15,000ft for cystic fibrosis research.

Ellie Dunstall, 21, of Darlington, and her brother, Patrick, 20, were diagnosed as having the life-limiting lung condition when they were just three and four years old.

At that time sufferers were only expected to live into their teen years but treatment has improved dramatically since then and now they can expect to extend their lives to approximately 30 to 40 years.

Miss Dunstall took on the skydive challenge with her boyfriend, Martin Heskett, 21, at Peterlee Parachuting and have raised more than £2,000 for the Cystic Fibrosis Fund.

The couple’s friend, Tory Lindsay, 21, who has known Ellie since reception class, was originally going to take the dive but couldn’t due to medical reasons and Martin stepped in. However, now Tory and her mother, Angela, plan to zip wire across Niagra Falls in Canada to raise money for the cause.

Ellie explained that she was hoping to raise knowledge and awareness of the condition. She said: “Cystic fibrosis is caused by one faulty gene and one in 25 of us carry this defect. It causes the body to produce a thick, sticky mucus which affects the lungs and digestive system and more than 10,000 people have it in the UK.

“Martin and I were OK on the dive until the plane started to get really high and it suddenly hit you that you were about to jump out of a plane and the fear really started to grip. But it was amazing after we jumped. I’d like to thank everyone who donated. We only hoped to raise £800, it’s been incredible.”

Find out more at www.justgiving.com/fundraising/sixty-five-roses