A SPECTACULAR ice bucket challenge dreamed up by a Dobcross man has become a hit on the internet.
John Williamson, a marketing manager for Manchester-based 65twenty, called on the services of a top helicopter pilot to create a riveting video of the stunt.
John, 27, asked Captain Chris Ruddy, boss of Pennine Helicopters, to empty a giant fire-fighting bucket carrying more than 50 gallons of icy water over the head of a colleague.
The stunt, filmed in a field close to Captain Ruddy’s base at Diggle, shows him piloting the LongRanger helicopter towards the man, who is wearing a safety helmet under a model horse’s head and other safety protection gear.
The helicopter hovered for a few seconds before dropping the icy deluge from 30ft, completely soaking the volunteer.
And, just for good measure, one of the volunteer’s friends supporting the venture from the ground, gave him an dousing from a conventional water-filled bucket.
John said: “There have been lots of these ‘ice bucket challenges’ over the web so I thought it would be great to do our own – but with a twist.
“The drop was done from a height of about 30ft up. It was sensational.
“I haven’t seen anything like it and I wanted it to gain as much notice as possible – so what better than a helicopter!”
The 21-year-old volunteer from Stalybridge did not want his identity revealed but John added: “He’s a great sport and the event has raised hundreds for charity.”
Captain Ruddy, who has more than 25 years’ experience, has the only two fire buckets in the UK capable of tackling moorland fires from the air.
He said: “I’ve never been asked to deliberately bomb someone before with water.
“Aerial fire-fighting is a very specialised area of work and requires great skill by the pilot. There are only a few in the UK.”
The stunt raised hundreds of pounds which has been donated to Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, a progressive neurodegenerative disease affecting nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord.
To watch the video visit www.theladbible.com/videos/our-ice-bucket-challenge or go to their Facebook page.
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