Bad Lad Gav's jump terror
A Shropshire man appearing in a reality television show today told of his horror as his parachute failed to open after he jumped out of a plane at 3,500ft.
Self-confessed "layabout" Gavin Woodhouse experienced the terrifying ordeal during filming of the final episode of the ITV show Bad Lads Army: Extreme - which is due to be broadcast next month.
Quick-thinking Gavin, of Newport, escaped injury after opening his reserve parachute but today said he still suffered nightmares about the experience.
He said he was "petrified" of heights before the plunge and now - six weeks later - still dreamed about plummeting to his death.
"I jumped out of the plane and my normal parachute failed so I had to open up my reserve in mid-air," he said.
"This happened when I was falling from about 3,500ft ."
He added: "If I'd had the chance to pray to God I would have because it was terrifying.
"When I pulled the chord for the reserve parachute to open there was a couple of seconds where I was just free-falling and I honestly thought it wasn't going to work and I was just going to plummet to my death."
A show insider said: "The lads were horrified when they saw what they thought was Woodhouse and his failed 'chute crashing down towards the Earth at an alarming rate.
"When it crashed onto the ground their hearts were in their mouths. But then seconds later they saw Woodhouse emerge from the clouds, suspended by his emergency 'chute.
"There was a huge cheer and when he landed they all ran up to see if he was okay."
Gavin is studying drama, practice and performance at Wolverhampton University Before the show, he said he scrounged off his mum for cash and spent his spare time boozing with pals.
Bad Lads Army: Extreme is shown on ITV1 on Tuesdays at 9pm.
