Smiths Beach former sparkie Anthony Susic – who is confined to a wheelchair because of multiple sclerosis – has taken to the air, thanks to the generosity of a charity.

The 57-year-old father-of-two last week cast off his wheelchair to indoor skydive at iFly in Melbourne, with his wife Mandy.

Mandy said MS Australia and their partner groups organised the event for a range of people with disabilities.

She said wearing a suit with handles, supported by two staff, meant they both felt safe in the 45-second flying experience in the giant vertical air tunnel.

“You fall into the air and get supported by the staff throughout,” Mandy said, adding flyers wear earplugs, goggles and a helmet.

“We both came out with big smiles on our faces.”

Anthony said the sensation was “very different”.

“I don’t trust airplanes or parachutes so I thought why not give it a go,” he said.

Another event organised by MS Australia, which Anthony has taken part in as a former surfer, includes surfing at Smiths Beach, where about 120 volunteers annually enable all disabilities to take to the water.

Anthony ran Cape Woolamai Electrical from the early ‘90s to 2014, contracting MS 20 years ago and taking to a wheelchair seven years ago, when Mandy became his full-time carer.