A CARER will go high above and beyond the call of duty when she jumps out of a plane to help a man with learning difficulties get his birthday wish.

Kelly Argent, a support worker at Darwin Care Ltd, is deathly afraid of heights.

But for Joseph Bevan’s 50th birthday, she’s willing to put that fear to rest and raise some money for the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance while she’s at it.

Mr Bevan has Asperger’s syndrome and receives support from Darwin Care, a service for people with learning disabilities and autism.

Discussing what he might want to do for his birthday, Miss Argent jokingly came up with the idea, not thinking he would take to it quite so enthusiastically.

She said: “I told him that we should go big for his birthday, do something huge like a skydive.

“Next thing I know he’s run next door to my boss, who comes back to me saying he thinks it’s a great idea.

“I’m petrified of heights and falling, so this is a big, big thing for me.

“But I know that it’s going to be one of those things that leaves me buzzing afterwards – once I’ve got two feet back on the ground.

“Joseph’s really excited. He’s looking forward to having a bit of cake afterwards.

“I just hope that the weather holds.”

Darwin Care Ltd is a company based in Weymouth, helping people around the Weymouth and Portland area.

Miss Argent said: “This company promotes independence and supports people.

“In the last year, Joseph has overcome so much personally and what better way to celebrate than by throwing yourself out of a plane.

“It’s like a small family here, a great place to work.

“When they want to go places we go with them. We’ll support them in everything.

“This sort of thing definitely helps. It gives them life experiences that they ordinarily wouldn’t get to try.

“We want them to strive for the best and get the most out of life.

“This is the only job you can find that all the staff actually love what they do.”

The skydive has been paid for up front, so all that is left for Mr Bevan and Miss Argent to do is raise as much money as they can for the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance.

To donate, click here.