A BRAVE teenager who is deaf and facing blindness jumped out of a plane at 13,000ft for a daring skydive yesterday.

Nicola Henderson, 17, who free-fell in tandem at more than 120 miles per hour, barely touched the ground before running to her mother with her hands in the air shouting: "I've done it. I've done it."

Nicola, who is going blind because of the genetic condition Usher syndrome, is already thinking of what daring challenge to try next.

Speaking through her mother, Tricia, moments after her jump at the Peterlee Parachute Centre, County Durham, she said: "It was fantastic. I couldn't wait to dive out of the plane.

"I want to be a positive role model for other deaf-blind people, showing them that they can't let their disability rule their life. And if there is something they want to go and do, then they need to get out there and do it."

Nicola, who was deaf from birth and diagnosed with Usher syndrome two years ago, initially felt scared and alone, but has shown a keen tenacity to overcome adversity.

After training for her jump, she was bitterly disappointed to learn on Saturday that the weather was unsuitable.

But determined as ever, she persisted and yesterday was taken for a fly over Newcastle to see her old school, the Northern Counties School for Deaf, before the jump.

Mrs Henderson said: "It was nerve-racking watching from the ground.

"There was a 20 knot wind and the plane had to circle a couple of times before she could jump."

Darren Mathison, who rode tandem with her, said: "It was a pleasure to see how much she enjoyed the jump. Nicola was very excited but very relaxed about it at the same time."

Nicola, from Blyth, Northumberland, said: "I want to use this opportunity to raise money for deaf-blind people less fortunate than me.

"And I want to make people aware of this disability and of the charity, Sense, which enabled me to meet other deafblind people and to come to terms with my deaf-blindness."

Nicola raised £1,500 for the charity.