A DAREDEVIL student leapt into the skies in memory of her childhood friend.

Brave Molly Blake, who is in her final year at Haslingden Sixth Form Centre, jumped from 15,000 feet out of an aeroplane in memory of Matthew Densfield, a former student and family friend.

Molly, 17, of Shelley Drive, Baxenden wanted to do something in Matthew’s memory after he died in March from a heart defect as a result of the genetic condition, DiGeorge Syndrome.

The 20-year-old student was studying music at the University of Leeds and had been in Manchester Royal Infirmary after a third heart operation.

While there, his family were able to stay in a Ronald McDonald House, which provides self-contained accommodation for the families of patients.

The A level student said: “It was amazing and the best thing I have done in my life. I would do it again in a heartbeat.”

As the lightest jumper she was strapped to the lightest instructor and so was last out of the plane and they jumped from around 15,000ft.

Molly said: “I wasn’t really scared because it was for Matt and so I couldn’t back out, not that I wanted to.

“I was sitting on the edge of the plane waiting for the instructor to push us out and I could see all of Blackpool, the Isle of Man and the Lake District.

“We had 40 seconds of freefalling and I was smiling, but because my teeth are sensitive and the wind was so cold they were hurting.

“Then the parachute opened and we were jolted back up. That is when I realised just how fast we had been going because the cameraman suddenly dropped below us quickly until he too opened his chute.

“As we were the lightest it took us the longest to get down, about seven or eight minutes, and then we landed in a puddle.”

Both Molly’s parents Dawn and Peter, and Matt’s, Dave and Susan, along with many members of both families went along to lend their support.

Molly said: “Afterwards we got to watch the DVD and we all had a picnic.”

After her A levels, she is hoping to study acting in Essex.

Molly’s efforts also helped to raise more than £1,000 for the Ronald McDonald charity.