Aviator Carol Vorderman plunges into icy Cornwall sea before she is rescued by military in preparation for solo round-the-world plane trip

By Ciara Farmer For Mailonline

Published: 11:26 EST, 10 October 2016 | Updated: 11:38 EST, 10 October 2016

She is set to take on the most gruelling challenge of her life. 

So Carol Vorderman is determined to prepare for all eventualities as she sets off on her solo round the world plane trip, as proved when she plunged into the murky depths of the ocean in Fowey, Cornwall on Saturday. 

The 55-year-old former Countdown star is preparing to fly solo around the world for a new Channel 5 series as she attempts to become the ninth woman in history to complete the feat and she has been in full training mode ahead of the trip. 

Scroll down for video

In too deep: Carol Vorderman is determined to prepare for all eventualities as she sets off on her solo round the world plane trip, as proved when she plunged into the murky depths of the ocean in Fowey, Cornwall on Saturday

In too deep: Carol Vorderman is determined to prepare for all eventualities as she sets off on her solo round the world plane trip, as proved when she plunged into the murky depths of the ocean in Fowey, Cornwall on Saturday

Carol obtained her pilot's licence two years ago and will be flying a Diamond DA42 twin-engine propeller plane nicknamed Mildred.

As she anxiously heads towards her challenge, she has been going full throttle with her training, most recently her plunge into the ocean. 

She was pictured in a life jacket with a helmet as she prepared for the possibility of dropping into water from the plane. 

After emerging from her terrifying dip, the stunning star could not stop smiling, seemingly invigorated by the plunge. 

All systems go! The 55-year-old former Countdown star is preparing to fly solo around the world for a new Channel 5 series as she attempts to become the ninth woman in history to complete the feat and she has been in full training mode ahead of the trip

All systems go! The 55-year-old former Countdown star is preparing to fly solo around the world for a new Channel 5 series as she attempts to become the ninth woman in history to complete the feat and she has been in full training mode ahead of the trip

The team: Posing with her rescuers following the plunge, Carol showed off sodden locks and an exhilarated smile as she appeared overjoyed to have crossed off another step to getting closer to her mission

The team: Posing with her rescuers following the plunge, Carol showed off sodden locks and an exhilarated smile as she appeared overjoyed to have crossed off another step to getting closer to her mission

Posing with her rescuers following the plunge, Carol showed off sodden locks and an exhilarated smile as she appeared overjoyed to have crossed off another step to getting closer to her mission.  

Last year she announced her plans to fulfill her childhood dream of flying around the world for the new TV show. 

The Channel 5 production, titled Carol's Incredible Solo Flight Around The World, will see the TV stalwart flying her own plane as she tries the mammoth task. 

Wet, wet, wet: Last year she announced her plans to fulfill her childhood dream of flying around the world for the new TV show

Wet, wet, wet: Last year she announced her plans to fulfill her childhood dream of flying around the world for the new TV show

Come fly with me: The Channel 5 production, titled Carol's Incredible Solo Flight Around The World, will see the TV stalwart flying her own plane as she tries the mammoth task

Come fly with me: The Channel 5 production, titled Carol's Incredible Solo Flight Around The World, will see the TV stalwart flying her own plane as she tries the mammoth task

She said: 'My life's dream has been to be a pilot. I fought to get to Cambridge University as a comprehensive kid on free school meals in the 1970s.

'I was the first child from my town to get there. My drive was always because I wanted to be a pilot but the RAF wouldn't train women as pilots back then and we were a poor family so flying lessons were out of the question and my dream was put on hold,' she continued.

'Only when I got into my 50s have I had the proper opportunity as a single parent to put everything else on the back burner.'

Come fly with me: Carol obtained her pilot's licence two years ago and will be flying a Diamond DA42 twin-engine propeller plane nicknamed Mildred

Come fly with me: Carol obtained her pilot's licence two years ago and will be flying a Diamond DA42 twin-engine propeller plane nicknamed Mildred

Got it! In February, Carol - who is now honorary RAF Group Captain as Ambassador for the RAF Air Cadets - revealed to her fans that she had passed yet another of her flying exams, meaning she was one step closer to achieving her dream of flying around the world

Got it! In February, Carol - who is now honorary RAF Group Captain as Ambassador for the RAF Air Cadets - revealed to her fans that she had passed yet another of her flying exams, meaning she was one step closer to achieving her dream of flying around the world

In a previous interview Carol explained she named her plane Mildred after her heroine, British aviator Mildred Bruce, who was formally known by her married name as the Honourable Mrs Victor Bruce.

In February, Carol - who is now honorary RAF Group Captain as Ambassador for the RAF Air Cadets - revealed to her fans that she had passed yet another of her flying exams, meaning she was one step closer to achieving her dream of flying around the world. 

In a snap shared on Twitter, she grinned from ear to ear and added: 'Happy bird......multi engine flying exam passed...woohoo x.

She also added another from outside the flight school, as she held her certificate in the air. 

Attention! Carol is living out her dreams 

Attention! Carol is living out her dreams 

Woo! In a snap shared on Twitter, she grinned from ear to ear and added: 'Happy bird......multi engine flying exam passed...woohoo x

Woo! In a snap shared on Twitter, she grinned from ear to ear and added: 'Happy bird......multi engine flying exam passed...woohoo x

Comments (47)

Share what you think

 View all

The comments below have not been moderated.

 View all

The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline.

Add your comment

By posting your comment you agree to our house rules.

Who is this week's top commenter? Find out now