Skydiver Jade Damarell, 32, is said to have broken up with her boyfriend the night before fell she to her death at 10,000ft – an inquest heard there was ‘no reason to suspect’ her kit was not working
A skydiver who plummeted to her death at 10,000ft had split from her boyfriend just hours before she died, reports say.
Jade Damarell, 32, died after crashing onto farmland in the village of Shotton Colliery, County Durham, on April 27. The marketing manager, who was born in Hong Kong and lived in Caerphilly, Wales, was an experienced skydiver who had accomplished more than 400 jumps. It’s understood police quickly identified the tragedy as non-suspicious after discovering a note, and an inquest heard last week that there was ‘no reason to suspect’ her equipment was not working on the day she died.
She is also now thought to have broken up with her boyfriend of eight months, 26-year-old car technician and musician Ben Goodfellow, the night before the incident.
The pair – who regularly went on sky dives together – had reportedly been living together since Christmas. One source told MailOnline: “The night before Jade died, Ben called off the relationship… He went to work the next day, and that’s when Jade fell to her death.”
The Mirror has approached Mr Goodfellow for comment.
According to friends, Ms Damarell’s parachute did not open during the the fatal sky dive, which saw her reach speeds of more than 120mph.
One pal said: “This wasn’t a skydiving accident – we believe she intended to take her life, sadly. She skydived with someone else, broke off and turned onto her back and impacted. She chose not to open her parachute and she landed on her back.”
Opening the hearing on Thursday, coroner’s officer Ms Alexis Blighe was asked by Senior Coroner Jeremy Chipperfield if there was any reason to suspect equipment failure on the day of her death. Ms Blighe replied “No reason at all sir.”
Ms Blighe said: “I understand the circumstances to be that Ms Damarell was involved in a parachute incident on April 27.”
A post-mortem examination at the Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle, carried out by Dr James Henry, found that she died as a result of “blunt trauma”.
Ms Blighe said the body was identified by Bryn Chaffe, who was chief instructor at the skydiving firm she used. The full inquest has been adjourned until August 21.
Following her death, her family said: “Skydiving and its fantastic community meant so much to Jade and we’re incredibly comforted by how admired, respected and deeply loved she was.
“We miss her beyond words but Jade’s love, brilliance, courage and light will live on in our family and among all those who knew and loved her.”
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