Sheffield woman scatters partner's ashes during skydive

Janice Lavine, from Stannington, Sheffield, prepares for a skydive in memory of her partner Paul Sherwin.

Janice Lavine, aged 54, from Stannington, bought Paul Sherwin a skydive for his 50th birthday in September 2013.

Sadly, he never got the chance to take to the skies as he died of a heart attack in August 2014.

Janice Lavine, from Stannington, Sheffield, with her late partner Paul Sherwin.

Janice, a support worker at the Northern General Hospital, decided she would take on the skydive herself, using it to raise money for the British Heart Foundation.

But she made sure Paul was there too – by taking a small pot containing some of his ashes, which she scattered after her parachute opened.

“Once I’ve got a bee in my bonnet I have to do something,” she said.

“It was pretty easy jumping out of a plane. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

“I wasn’t really nervous.

“I loved every bit of it and as I went down I scattered some of Paul’s ashes.

“I’m sure he would be cross he didn’t get to do it!” Janice said.

Janice has also scattered some of Paul’s ashes by their favourite bar in Magaluf.

“I keep taking him to our special places,” she said.

Paul, a Sheffield Wednesday fan, was on his way home from work in April 2014 when he had a heart attack. He had two stents fitted and was thought to be back to full health.

However, he died while out on a bike ride on August 27, 2014, leaving two daughters, Leanne and Stacey, and a baby grandson, Harrison.

“He was just wonderful,” said Janice. “Everyone loved him. He didn’t have a bad streak in him.”

Janice is now considering more fundraising events. She raised about £650 with the skydive for the BHF.