A MAN more accustomed to saving people from dangerous situations is throwing himself out of an aeroplane to raise money for charity.

The Chief Fire Officer at Cleveland Fire Brigade will skydive for 13,000ft.

John Doyle, along with other fire chiefs from around the country, aim to raise money for a children's burns unit and the Fire Service National Benevolent Fund.

The event, which is being organised by South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue, will take place today at Langar Airfield, in Nottingham, weather permitting.

He said: "I found out about the event at a Chief Fire Officers' Association meeting and somehow I managed to volunteer myself to jump out of a plane with a parachute.

"But I'm up for the challenge, along with my other colleagues, for such a good cause.

"The idea is for heads of fire services up and down the country to do simultaneous skydives to raise money for the two charities, making it a national event.

"It will be a tandem jump, so I will be attached to a trained skydiver.

"Injuries from fires cause untold trauma, and for children to suffer such pain is undoubtedly heartbreaking.

"The money raised will go towards Sheffield Northern General Hospital's Children's Burns Unit which does a marvellous job in treating and nursing injuries that are often more than skin deep."