Ballymena local Jack Mitchell has soared to new heights—literally—in a heart-pounding aeroplane wing walk to raise vital funds for Air Ambulance NI. Jack made his bucket-list wish a reality on October 4th with a self-funded trip to Bristol for the once-in-a-lifetime experience with AeroSuperBatics Wingwalkers.

Despite wild weather conditions and a storm just the day before, Jack’s adrenaline-fuelled flight went ahead as scheduled—a stroke of luck, as all wing walks were cancelled for two days after his daring feat! Strapped securely to the top of a plane, Jack soared through the sky for a thrilling ten-minute flight, capturing the adventure on video. While Jack admits he was calm during take-off, he felt the nerves kick in during the descent as the ground approached and the aircraft vibrated beneath his feet.

Jack chose to fundraise for the local charity, Air Ambulance NI, knowing how vital the service is for everyone across Northern Ireland. “You never know when you might need it,” Jack said. “It was the perfect fit for my aviation-themed challenge, and as someone who wants to become a pilot and trains at Newtownards Airfield, it means a lot to support the team that saves lives every day.”

Jack’s fundraising efforts have made a remarkable impact, generating enough to fund half a day of the service. On average, the Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) responds to two people each day, meaning Jack’s contribution could cover the cost of a vital mission — delivering critical pre-hospital care to someone in urgent need. Impressively, Jack is also the first-ever wing walker to raise funds for Air Ambulance NI!

Kerry Anderson, Head of Fundraising for Air Ambulance NI welcomed Jack to the charity’s base outside Lisburn and commented “We are absolutely thrilled by Jack’s incredible commitment and bravery in taking on such a daring challenge. Every single fundraiser makes a real difference, but to see someone go above and beyond—literally—to help keep our helicopter flying is truly inspiring. Jack’s efforts will directly help us deliver emergency care to people across Northern Ireland that could mean the difference between life and death. On behalf of everyone at Air Ambulance NI, thank you, Jack, for being our first ever wing walker fundraiser! We are so grateful for your support.”

Air Ambulance NI works in partnership with the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service (NIAS), delivering critical pre-hospital care every single day. With the ability to reach any location in Northern Ireland within just 25 minutes, the HEMS team responds to an average of two emergencies daily.

The service relies on £8,200 each day to stay in the air—a sum made possible only through generous public support and fundraising initiatives just like Jack’s daring flight.