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Scary drop for the dam-busters
Friday September 26th 2008. Posted: 09:40
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Going over the top: Samantha Eld goes abseiling
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“It was high, it was windy and it was very scary.” That was the reaction from two Openreach people who abseiled 195 feet down the side of Baitings Dam at Ripponden in Yorkshire.
Local loop unbundling assurance advisers Samantha Eld and Kim Ooi made the leap in aid of the British Red Cross. Sponsored by friends and Openreach colleagues, they raised £433 between them. “It was more exciting than any theme park ride,” said Sam. “I actually suffer from arthritis, but afterwards people couldn't believe it. My motto is to never let differences - like arthritis - rule you. Adapt and have fun.” Kim has a natural fear of heights, but didn’t let that put him off. “My reaction on seeing the dam for the first time was that it looked more like 195 metres than 195 feet,” he said. “We had to climb over the ledge onto a very wobbly log to start the abseil, then step off the log on to the wall of the dam. “There was also a gap of several metres, which meant that at a certain point, we would need to ease our feet off the wall and dangle in midair until our feet touched the ledge of the dam below. I kept thinking ‘don't look down’ and just focused on the wall in front of me, taking it one step at a time. “Sam had done this before so she beat me to the bottom, but I got there in the end. Looking up, I really could not believe how far I had travelled."
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Last updated:
09:55