A NEWPORT funeral director marked her 21st birthday by jumping off the tallest freestanding observation tower in the United States - all in the name of charity.

Animal lover Rachael Ryan, from Bettws, leapt off the 108th floor of the 1,149 ft Stratosphere Tower in Las Vegas to help raise money for the troubled All Creatures Great and Small charity.

Ms Ryan, a horse rider who also owns three Bichon Frise dogs, was moved to attempt the challenge after the Cwmbran-based charity feared it would be wound up without further donations.

She previously did a sky dive in Swansea and a bungee jump in Bristol in aid of the charity, but ranked this as her most terrifying challenge yet.

She said: “It was my 21st and I always wanted to wake up in Vegas, but it was pretty much the scariest thing I’ve ever done.

“You can just see the top of the lights there at the top. As soon as you walk off as you come down, it’s quite slow but it’s over in 17 or 18 seconds.

"Now, especially after the SOS appeal All Creatures Great and Small did, it’s even more important now than ever. I didn’t want to let them down really – I was just thinking of the animals."

Among those watching in horror were Ms Ryan’s mother, Pat, and her sister, Louise, who went on the trip with her.

Ms Ryan said her family were proud of her, even though they do not share her love of adrenaline rushes.

She said: “Every year since I was 19, I’ve done something on my birthday or near it for All Creatures Great and Small.

“A lot of my family won’t watch me do these things - none of them are an adrenaline junky like me. They just wait at the bottom and hope I come down.”

Ms Ryan has raised £235 from her latest venture and is considering a 100mph zip wire challenge in West Wales for her 22nd birthday.

To donate, visit https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/rachael-ryan1