A DAREDEVIL grandmother recovering from knee replacement surgery leapt out of a plane at £15,000ft minutes after hearing her instructor had died in a skydive.

Moira ‘Scottie’ Peter was due to do a tandem skydive with Carl Marsh for her 80th birthday.

But when she turned up to take the ultimate leap of faith she was told that the 46-year-old had died in a parachute jump on April 29.

Hearing the tragic news did not put her off and she is now looking into doing a wing walk and abseiling down the Royal Liver Building in Liverpool.

Grandmother-of-four Moira said: “I was obviously very sad to hear of the poor man’s death but it did not put me off and I was not nervous about my skydive at all.

“My family think I am bananas but they have accepted I am a daredevil at heart.

“I said to one of the instructors I might be back to do another skydive when I turn 90.

“I would also love to do a wing walk and abseil down the Liver Building. As long as you are healthy you should keep doing the things you want to do, no matter what age you are.”

Moira, of Chelford Avenue, Lowton, had to have a replacement knee fitted after falling from a pavement last year.

Having vowed to do a second skydive for her 80th birthday when she did her first at the age of 70, she feared the surgery would scupper her plans.

Moira had to pass a medical and prove that her plastic knee would not prevent her from landing safely during pre-jump training at the Black Knights Parachute Centre in Cockerham.

She passed with flying colours and thoroughly enjoyed the jump on her return to Lancaster which has seen her raise more than £800 for injured shoulders.

Moira said: “Due to my knee replacement I had to concentrate on keeping my leg straight during the skydive, but it worked out well in the end.

“The jump was a fantastic experience and it was a beautiful day to do it.

“We flew out as far as the Isle of Man and the views from the sky were wonderful.”

She chose to jump in aid of Help for Heroes, a charity which helps servicemen and women who have been wounded or injured in the line of duty, after being inspired by an engineer at her family business RPA Dental in Wigan, Dave Ainscough, who served in the armed forces and spent time in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Her previous skydive 10 years ago was in aid of Cancer Research UK after two of Moira’s friends died from the disease.

Moira, who has been married to her 80-year-old husband Ron for 57 years, said: “I am happy I have been able to raise money for Help for Heroes.

“I believe there is not enough given to veterans in this country.”

Moira, who is president of the Newton and District Jubilee Inner Wheel Club, chose the more daunting option of zigzagging to the ground over a straight route from A to B.

A spokesman for the women’s voluntary service organisation said: “She is a truly remarkable lady.”