A tree surgeon who survived a 40-foot fall from a cherry picker has jumped out of an aeroplane in a charity skydive.

Father-of-two Trevor McBean was monitoring power lines last August when the elevated platform he was working on tipped over.

The 39-year-old sub-contractor was sent crashing through trees, suffering a fractured skull and broken wrist.

Undeterred by his fall and to celebrate his 39th birthday last month, he and friend Derek Dobie jumped out of an aeroplane at 12,000 feet in a skydive at Headcorn Airfield.

He said: “Because I have no memory of the fall at work, it gave me the confidence to do the skydive. If I had remembered it, then I might not have done it.”

Adding: “A lot of people say it’s the worst part but I thought the best bit was jumping out. I would definitely do it again.”

Trevor, from Bathhurst Road in Staplehurst, raised £1,680 from the jump for Kent, Surrey & Sussex Air Ambulance, which flew him to a specialist London hospital following the accident last year.

He said: “I’m just really grateful to everyone who has sponsored me. I was expecting to raise about £300, but to get so much more means a lot to me.”

Paramedics were first on the scene to treat Mr McBean before the air ambulance arrived.

The helicopter’s doctor, Steph Tilston, helped sedate Trevor before taking him to King’s College Hospital in London, where scans showed he had potentially fatal bleeding on the brain.

He remained in hospital for three weeks before he was allowed to return home, and in March he was reunited with Dr Tilston for the first time since his accident when he visited the nearby helicopter base at Marden.

Trevor said: “Meeting Steph was my way of thanking her personally and everyone who helped save my life.”

Trevor can still be sponsored at www.justgiving.com/Trevor-McBean. Donations so far include £1,000 from Trevor’s employers, Brockwells Forestry.