A GRANDMOTHER has revealed the secret of her survival after 60 foot death defying plunge off a mountain.

Within the space of five days Marion Hunt has not only celebrated the 60th anniversary of surviving a the drop off Meliden mountain, near Prestatyn, but also her retirement after 30 years working at Ysgol Plas Brondyffryn in Denbigh.

However, despite the harrowing experience - in which she incredibly escaped with only a broken wrist and made headlines in the national press of its day - the former teaching assistant marked the Monday, July 15 milestone in good humour.

Denbighshire Free Press:

Marion Hunt marks the milestone back on Meliden mountain with son Kristopher

Marion, 64, said: "We were already on the way to my step-granddaughter's birthday - which takes precedent - before I decided to return to the scene as it were with my son Kristopher.

"We walked up and I quietly reflected that really the occasion was an opportunity to celebrate. If I had died, I would have become the mother to my two sons or a grandmother.

"So all in all it was a happy time. My son was even messing about, and even jokingly pretended to stop me falling off again."

The incident occurred when the then five year old Marion, who still lives in Meliden, took the familiar path up the mountain after school with her elder brother Gwyn, to find her 12 month old brother Mel and her father.

However, upon getting lost and trying to make her way down the mountain, Marion fell when a fence she was leaning on collapsed.

Marion added:"I remember two young lads shouting at me at the nearby JS Jones in Dyserth to turn back, and then I'm not quite sure what happened when the fence broke and all I can remember is this floating feeling.

"The next thing that happened, I fell down and into a tree, where I was left dangling by my hair, before my scalp gave way and I fell onto some train tracks and broke my wrist.

"It's quite amazing that I survived really - I was especially lucky that one of the boys, Bill Jones, got to me straight away and carried me down to a nearby garage where the ambulance was rushing to. He was only 19 at the time, he was just a boy.

"The doctor thought I was going to die, and told my mother that I wouldn't survive the night.

"It turns out that the secret to my survival was that I was five and my bones were still soft. If I had been even a little older, and my bones were harder, I would be dead. All I had was a greenstick fracture in my left wrist and a little bald spot - which I still have to this day."

Denbighshire Free Press:

A clipping from the Daily Herald from Thursday, July 16 1959

Such was the significance of Marion's incredible survival, that nearby family members in Rhyl found out about the incident on the evening news.

However, for Marion the 60 anniversary of the event had no bearing on her choice to retire from the Denbigh school.

Denbighshire Free Press:

Mrs Hunt celebrates retirement with Ysgol Plas Brondyffryn colleagues

Marion said: "To be honest, it only dawned on me last year that the anniversary was coming up, and the decision to retire in the same week was just a coincidence.

"This week I've been more concerned with having some parties with my colleagues and having a fantastic afternoon tea with my family."