A HOSPITAL doctor on a parachuting holiday hurled himself out of a plane in a vain attempt to help a North-East student plummeting to her death.

Hospital registrar Dr Joshua Burrill was on the same aircraft as student Sue Westwood in Soulac-Sur-Mer, France, when tragedy struck at 3,000 feet.

Despite having made two previously successful jumps, one of Miss Westwood legs became entangled in the parachute ropes as she left the aircraft.

At first, friends in the plane thought she was spiralling to earth on purpose. Instead, the 23-year-old from Billingham was fighting for her life.

Sensing something was wrong, Dr Burrill jumped after her. He told an inquest in Middlesbrough yesterday: "I realised that if she did nothing and continued to spiral down she would hurt herself very badly,"

Although Miss Westwood managed to release the damaged chute - automatically triggering her reserve - it was too late. After free-falling thousands of feet she was only a couple of hundred feet from the ground.

Dr Burrill was first on the scene but could do nothing to help.

Miss Westwood had been on a parachuting holiday with a group of fellow enthusiasts from Leeds University.

Friend Helen Nickols said she heard parachute instructor Simon Powell, who had been standing in the aircraft doorway, say: "We have lost her." He ordered the pilot: "Go right!"

Miss Nickols said in a statement: "I saw the white parachute spiral to the ground. I watched her spiral. I thought she was spiralling intentionally. She was losing height rapidly."

Parachute instructor Rodney Bartholomew told French investigators: "As the parachute opened, one of her legs became entangled in one of the suspension ropes. The parachute began to revolve."

Mr Bartholomew said Miss Westwood released her safety chute too late, too near the ground.

"In my opinion, as it was the first time she experienced difficulties, she did not look at her altimeter during this descent."

He said in a statement to yesterday's inquest that he judged that the student had dropped to about 200ft off the ground when she pulled the rip cord on her reserve-safety chute.

Last night, Miss Westwood's devastated parents, Michael and Joan Westwood, paid tribute to the daughter who they described as "the best".

"She got on well with everyone. We were her parents, but everyone thought she was lovely," said her research scientist father. "Sue was fantastic. She was just the best."

Leeds University will unveil a special floral mural next Thursday as a memorial to the good samaritan student who worked for the disability service and carried out charity work.

Teesside Coroner Michael Sheffield recorded a verdict of accidental death.

Miss Westwood, whose parents live in Wallington Road, Billingham, died from multiple injuries compatible with a fall.