A CHARITY skydive has raised nearly £5,000 in memory of a former Carnforth High School student.

Peter Taylor, also a former apprentice mechanic at Wilson's of Endmoor, died suddenly in November 2013 of a cardiac arrest.

The death of the 17-year-old came as a shock to the local community as we was a normal healthy teenager.

His mother Diane, sister Rhian, cousin Tony and other close family friends decided to raise funds for the charity Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY) in his memory. The charity provides support to bereaved families following these tragic deaths, and also provides screening for young people to detect any heart abnormalities which can go unnoticed.

The skydives took place at The Black Knights Parachute Centre, Cockerham, near Lancaster. All 9 successfully completed the skydives, while some of the participants even upgraded from a standard 11,000ft to 15,000ft.

The total raised by the group was £4,712.30.

Peter's mother said it was important for the family and their friends to raise awareness of CRY because of the 'excellent' support they provided.

"After my son died I was contacted straight away I was offered support and follow ups and they were arranging medical checks to see if it was a genetic thing," she said.

"They were very good, they services the provide are excellent.

"I didn't know much about them – I had heard them but knew very little – so I think awareness is very important and I just thought if it was something we could do then we should do it.

"It was horrendous when Peter passed away, the worst thing imaginable as a parent, so we are trying to put a positive side on it and do something positive because it does help you get through it."