Brave Charlotte takes to the skies

Quadruple amputee Charlotte Cleverley-Bisman started a daredevil weekend by jumping out of a plane yesterday.

The 11-year-old was joined at Skydive Auckland by Kiwi swimmer Cameron Leslie, a double gold medal-winning Paralympian, and American tri-amputee and motivational speaker Cameron Clapp.

The trio's adventure will continue at Piha today where they will try surfing before they zip down a flying fox on Waiheke Island, where Charlotte lives.

The action-packed weekend was organised after Clapp decided to visit New Zealand for the first time.

Charlotte Cleverley-Bisman lands after her skydive and is greeted by friends Cameron Clapp (left) and Cameron Leslie (right). Photo / Nick Reed

The 29-year-old has been a friend to Charlotte and her parents since she was 4. The pair met when she travelled to the US to attend Camp No Limits - a camp for young people with limb loss, and for their families.

Clapp lost both legs and his right arm after being hit by a train in September 2001. He had been returning from a 9/11 memorial service.

Leslie's family have known Charlotte since she was a toddler. Her parents approached them so they could understand how they coped with his condition: congenital quadruple limb deficiency.

It has been more than a decade since Charlotte captured the hearts of the country when she lost her limbs to meningococcal disease.