Gabrielle Giffords skydives on anniversary of shooting

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-25663002

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Former US Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, who was shot and badly wounded in 2011, has marked the third anniversary of the attack by skydiving.

Ms Giffords waved and blew kisses to a crowd at a skydiving site near Tucson, Arizona, after landing without injury.

Six people were killed and Ms Giffords was shot in the head when Jared Lee Loughner opened fire at an outdoor political meeting in Tucson.

He is serving seven life terms plus 140 years in jail.

"Gabby landed beautifully. Happy she's safe. So proud of her bravery," Ms Giffords' husband, former astronaut Mark Kelly, wrote on his Twitter account.

She made the tandem jump strapped to a professional skydiver.

Jimmy Hatch, a former Navy Seal who accompanied Ms Giffords, said the group of skydivers taking part in the event held hands and formed a circle shortly after leaving the aircraft and then made a line with Ms Giffords in the middle.

"She was the least nervous person on the plane," he said.

The office of US Vice President Joe Biden said he called Ms Giffords on Wednesday to wish her good luck.

Ms Giffords resigned from Congress in January 2012 to focus on her recovery from serious injury.

She has become a prominent campaigner for tighter gun controls in the US.