Latest news with #Damarell
New York Post
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Experienced skydiver thought to have leapt to her death was dumped by boyfriend the night before
The experienced UK skydiver thought to have deliberately jumped to her death last month had been dumped by her boyfriend the night before, according to a new report. Jade Damarell — who had more than 400 successful jumps — was killed instantly during her last skydive on April 27th as she crashed into a farmer's field in County Durham in northeast England. Damarell, 32, was dumped by fellow skydiver Ben Goodfellow, 26, just a day before the fatal jump, the Daily Mail reported. 3 An experienced skydiver who fell to her death in the UK last month in 'a deliberate act taken to end her own life' had split from her boyfriend just a day before the tragedy. Jade Damarell / Facebook 'The two of them were inseparable,' an anonymous friend told the Daily Mail of the pair, who dated for around eight months. 'They spent all their time together, they didn't really engage with anyone else. They did skydives together all the time.' 'The night before Jade died, Ben called off the relationship,' the friend added. 'He went to work the next day, and that's when Jade fell to her death,' the friend said. The couple had lived together in a double room at a property rented out to parachutists near the airfield for several months, according to the outlet. 3 Fellow skydiver Ben Goodfellow called off his relationship with Damarell were in a six-to-eight-month relationship and had lived together. Facebook / Ben Goodfellow Goodfellow was also a technician at Nissan and the lead guitarist and vocalist for indie band Post Rome, which cancelled a gig shortly after Damarell's death due to 'unseen circumstances,' the outlet said. Police said Damarell's death is 'not being treated as suspicious' — and the company she jumped with said that 'all indications from the police and British Skydiving are that this was a deliberate act taken to end her own life.' A friend previously told the Daily Mail that 'everyone is devastated and deeply traumatized' by the 32-year-old's death because 'she was very much part of the skydiving community.' 3 The company she jumped with said that 'all indications from the police and British Skydiving are that this was a deliberate act taken to end her own life.' Instagram / Jade Damarell 'She was mad for the sport,' the unidentified friend said. 'In just the two days before she died, she did 11 jumps. She must have done 80 this year.' At least one person witnessed Damarell jump to her death, according to the outlet. The local police department, the Durham Constabulary, said: 'Her death is not being treated as suspicious and a file will now be prepared for the coroner.' If you are struggling with suicidal thoughts, you can dial the 24/7 National Suicide Prevention hotline at 988 or go to
Daily Mirror
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Doomed skydiver's tormented final days from 'boyfriend split to tragic letter'
Experienced skydiver Jade Damarell, 32, plunged to her death and died instantly after her boyfriend reportedly broke up with her the night before, leaving her devastated New details have emerged about Jade Damarell 's final days before she tragically plummeted to her death. The death of thrill-seeking Ms Damarell, 32, a highly experienced skydiver, has been described as an "unimaginable loss" amid an ongoing investigation. The woman, who had completed more than 400 previous jumps, died instantly after hitting the ground at Wrefords' Farm in Shotton, County Durham. She was pronounced dead at the scene. It is understood that Ms. Damarell, from Caerphilly, South Wales, had broken up with her boyfriend the day before her fatal skydive. After splitting from her husband, she had reportedly been in a relationship with Ben Goodfellow, 26, a fellow skydiving enthusiast, for approximately six to eight months. The couple had been living together in a double room at a property near the airfield, rented specifically for parachutists, for several months, according to MailOnline. A friend described their bond as extremely close. The source said: 'They were inseparable. They did everything together and didn't really interact much with others. They often went skydiving as a pair. They had been living together since Christmas and had been dating for a few months before that.' According to the friend, the night before Ms. Damarell's death, Mr. Goodfellow ended the relationship. He reportedly went to work the following day, during which time the tragedy occurred. Mr. Goodfellow works as a technician at Nissan and is also the lead singer and guitarist for the Sunderland-based indie band Post Rome, whose music has featured on BBC Introducing. Following the incident, the band cancelled a scheduled performance, citing 'unforeseen circumstances.' A friend claimed that a note referencing the breakup was found by police. They added: 'Jade had ended things with Ben on previous occasions, but Saturday was the first time he ended it with her. Ben is a quiet person - he's completely devastated by what's happened.' Initial reports had assumed Ms Damarell's death was a tragic accident. But SkyHigh Skydiving issued a statement saying her death was suspected to have been 'a deliberate act'. It is understood police quickly marked the tragedy as non-suspicious after discovering a note disclosing her intentions. Ms Damarell had been living in lodgings in Shotton, Co Durham, since the end of last year, renting a double bed in a house used by skydivers staying over in the village. At the time of the tragedy it was said that Ms Damarell, a keen skydiver who had jumped around 80 times this year, deliberately failed to open her parachute as she plunged at speeds of more than 120mph. A friend of Ms Damarell 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." Police and emergency services were called to nearby Wreford's Farm, where she landed, but she was pronounced dead at the scene. One person is believed to have witnessed the horror. An inquest heard that Ms Damarell did not suffer any failure in her equipment. Asked by Senior Coroner Jeremy Chipperfield if there was any reason to suspect equipment failure, Coroner's officer Ms Alexis Blighe replied 'No reason at all sir.' On the face of it, Jade had everything to live for. Her mum's Facebook page proudly recorded the highlight's of her daughter's life. Other images showed her enjoying family hikes with the dog, and in one post, mum Liz revealed she'd completed her first skydive with her daughter. In an August 26, 2024 Facebook post, she said: "This weekend I did something I never thought I could, or would, do… a sky-dive! Such a bucket list moment. Firstly watching my beautiful daughter Jade free-fly solo right before me, like a ninja. Then, amazed at the reassurance and confidence Jade and my fabulous tandem instructor Lewis (aka Biscuit) and cameraman Blake gave me, off we flew. "Just wow… over a minute in freefall from 15,500 feet, at around 120 MPH, with the air temp -15 and breath-taking wind at this altitude. Considering my fear of heights I still can't quite believe I did it! My favourite part was actually being under canopy, I absolutely loved it but this experience makes me even more proud of Jade's amazing free-fly skills now and it was incredible to watch her nail her landing below us and be there to greet me back on solid ground." An inquest will now be opened to establish the circumstances surrounding Jade's death and answer questions surrounding her final moments. According to one friend, she jumped a staggering 11 times in the 48 hours leading up to her death. "Everyone is devastated and deeply traumatised by what happened because she was very much part of the skydiving community," the friend told MailOnline. "She was mad for the sport. In just the two days before she died, she did 11 jumps. She must have done 80 this year."
Daily Mirror
02-05-2025
- Daily Mirror
Tragic skydiver Jade Damarell's family tribute to 'brilliant, beautiful, brave' woman
Experienced parachutist Jade Damarell was found dead after going for a sky dive in County Durham. Her family have spoken as more information emerges on the tragedy The devastated family of parachutist Jade Damarell have paid tribute to their beloved daughter. Jade, 32, is believed to have taken her own life in a tragic fall after hitting the ground during a jump in County Durham on Sunday. Initial reports had assumed Jade's death was a tragic accident. But SkyHigh Skydiving issued a statement saying that her death was suspected to have been 'a deliberate act'. Today Jade's family released a moving tribute to their daughter. It reads: 'It is with immense sadness that we share the loss of our beloved daughter, Jade. A brilliant, beautiful, brave and truly extraordinary person. A bright, adventurous, free spirit, she lived with immense energy, passion, and love, and touched countless lives with her warmth and kindness. 'Professionally, Jade was exceptionally talented and admired for her creativity and dedication in marketing. Personally, Jade had recently begun training for her pilot's licence and as a keen Skydiver, Jade found freedom and purpose. 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. Some stars are so bright, they burn through their time too quickly - but their light never truly fades. 'We want to extent our heartfelt thanks to everyone in the emergency services and the local first responders, as well as the skydiving community. Your care and compassion mean more to us than we can express. Lastly, if you are struggling, please reach out. Talk to someone - a friend, loved one, or professional. You are never alone. Please respect our family's privacy as we come to terms with this devastating loss.' It is understood that police quickly marked the tragedy as non-suspicious after discovering a note disclosing her intentions. Jade had been living in lodgings in Shotton, Co Durham, since the end of last year, renting a double bed in a house used by skydivers staying over in the village. She had been living with a man she described to friends as her 'boyfriend'. Ms Damarell, an aunt, had previously married Leeds-based solicitor James Damarell in 2019 but the pair were said to have become estranged. Ms Damarell's mother Liz Samuels posted images on Facebook of the couple's wedding day, in October 2019, writing: 'Happy birthday to our beautiful daughter Jade Damarell - all grown up and her first birthday as a married lady, but always my little girl.' Mr Damarell declined to speak about the tragedy when approached at his £500,000 detached house in Green Hammerton, near York. The pair had previously posted pictures on Facebook of sunny countryside hikes with a pug dog. A friend of Ms Damarell 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.' Police and emergency services were called to nearby Wreford's Farm, where she landed, but she was pronounced dead at the scene. One person is believed to have witnessed the horror. Friend Danni Willis, who worked at SkyHigh Skydiving, posted pictures of Ms Damarell on Facebook, adding: 'Such a beautiful girl inside and out.' A file has been passed to the coroner and an inquest into Ms Damarell's death will be opened in due course.
Daily Mail
02-05-2025
- Daily Mail
Jade Damarell is THIRD skydiver to die in 10 years at the same airfield after one plummeted onto factory roof and another couldn't deploy her parachute
The death of a 32-year-old skydiver who died instantly when she hit the ground during a jump at the weekend is the third such fatality in ten years at the same airfield. Jade Damarell, 32, a highly experienced skydiver who had safely accomplished more than 400 previous jumps, is feared to have deliberately sabotaged her jump and taken her own life. Ms Damarell, a married marketing manager, lost her life on Sunday morning while parachuting with Sky High Skydiving which is based at Shotton Airfield, a former colliery pit in Peterlee, County Durham. Police and emergency services were called to nearby Wreford's Farm, where she landed, but she was pronounced dead at the scene. SkyHigh Skydiving issued a statement saying that her death is suspected to have been 'a deliberate act'. A spokesman said: 'It is with great sadness that we confirm a tragic incident took place on 28 April 2025 involving a valued member of our community. 'All indications from the police and British Skydiving are that this was a deliberate act taken to end her own life. 'This heartbreaking news has deeply affected all who knew her, and our thoughts are with her family and friends as they face this unimaginable loss.' Jade Damarell, 32, a highly experienced skydiver who had safely accomplished more than 400 previous jumps, is feared to have deliberately sabotaged her jump and taken her own life Ms Damarell (pictured), a married marketing manager, lost her life on Sunday morning while parachuting with Sky High Skydiving which is based at Shotton Airfield, a former colliery pit in Peterlee, County Durham SkyHigh Skydiving was hit by a similar tragedy last year when videographer Sam Cornwell plunged to his death after his parachute malfunctioned and failed to open properly. Mr Cornwell, 46, had taken off from Shotton Airfield but fell and landed on a factory roof at the South West Industrial Estate in Peterlee. He was pronounced dead at the scene on April 28, 2024. An inquest into his death, at Crook Civic Centre, heard how he had been filming another skydiver when his main canopy opened but became twisted, rendering it useless, and the reserve shoot failed to deploy properly in time. CCTV footage caught the moment he struck the roof while images from Mr Cornwell's helmet-mounted GoPro camera were also viewed. Nine years ago, Pamela Gower plummeted 14,000 feet to her death after she was unable to deploy her parachute because she was aggressively spinning in the wind. Ms Gower, 49, from Tyneside who had dwarfism died in a skydive because she was too short to carry out a move which could have saved her life, an inquest later found. She was spinning so hard she was exposed to greater G-force than a fighter pilot as she fell to the ground and was unable to arch her back - which could have helped her regain control- due to her stature. Ms Gower was an experienced sky diver, and had been taking part in a charity jump at Peterlee Parachute Centre - also based at Shotton Airfield - on September 10, 2016 when she died. Nine years ago, Pamela Gower plummeted 14,000 feet to her death after she was unable to deploy her parachute because she was aggressively spinning in the wind SkyHigh Skydiving was hit by a similar tragedy last year when videographer Sam Cornwell (above) plunged to his death after his parachute malfunctioned and failed to open properly It was reported that Ms Damarell, a keen skydiver who had jumped around 80 times this year, deliberately failed to open her parachute as she plunged at speeds of more than 120mph. An inquest will now be opened to establish the circumstances surrounding Jade's death and answer questions surrounding her final moments. According to one friend, she jumped a staggering 11 times in the 48 hours leading up to her death. A friend of Ms Damarell 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.' Police and emergency services were called to nearby Wreford's Farm, where she landed, but she was pronounced dead at the scene. One person is believed to have witnessed the horror.
Daily Mail
02-05-2025
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Inside the final months of 'beautiful' Jade Damarell's life: From being happily married to living in lodgings at skydiving club with 'boyfriend'
A highly-experienced parachutist believed to have taken her own life in a tragic fall had split from her husband and had been living with a new man before her death, friends have claimed. Jade Damarell, 32, a skydiver who had accomplished more than 400 jumps, died instantly after hitting the ground during a jump in County Durham on Sunday. Initial reports had assumed Jade's death was a tragic accident. But SkyHigh Skydiving issued a statement saying that her death was suspected to have been 'a deliberate act'. MailOnline understands that police quickly marked the tragedy as non-suspicious after discovering a note disclosing her intentions. Jade had been living in lodgings in Shotton, Co Durham, since the end of last year, renting a double bed in a house used by skydivers staying over in the village. She had been living with a man she described to friends as her 'boyfriend'. One said: 'She had been staying in the digs since the end of last year. There are bunk beds for skydivers who come from all over the country to parachute. 'Jade rented a double room and told us she was staying with her boyfriend. No-one is living there now.' Ms Damarell, an aunt, had previously married Leeds-based solicitor James Damarell in 2019, but the pair were said to have become estranged. Ms Damarell's mother Liz Samuels posted images on Facebook of the couple's wedding day, in October 2019, writing: 'Happy birthday to our beautiful daughter Jade Damarell - all grown up and her first birthday as a married lady, but always my little girl.' Other images showed her enjoying family hikes with the dog, and in one post, mum Liz revealed she'd completed her first skydive with her daughter. In an August 26, 2024, Facebook post, she said: 'This weekend I did something I never thought I could, or would, do… a sky-dive! Such a bucket list moment. 'Firstly watching my beautiful daughter Jade free-fly solo right before me, like a ninja. Then, amazed at the reassurance and confidence Jade and my fabulous tandem instructor Lewis (aka Biscuit) and cameraman Blake gave me, off we flew. 'Just wow… over a minute in freefall from 15,500 feet, at around 120 MPH, with the air temp -15 and breath-taking wind at this altitude. 'Considering my fear of heights I still can't quite believe I did it! My favourite part was actually being under canopy, I absolutely loved it but this experience makes me even more proud of Jade's amazing free-fly skills now and it was incredible to watch her nail her landing below us and be there to greet me back on solid ground.' Mr Damarell declined to speak about the tragedy when approached by Mail Online at his £500,000 detached house in Green Hammerton, near York. It was reported that Ms Damarell, a keen skydiver who had jumped around 80 times this year, deliberately failed to open her parachute as she plunged at speeds of more than 120mph. An inquest will now be opened to establish the circumstances surrounding Jade's death and answer questions surrounding her final moments. According to one friend, she jumped a staggering 11 times in the 48 hours leading up to her death. A friend of Ms Damarell 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.' Police and emergency services were called to nearby Wreford's Farm, where she landed, but she was pronounced dead at the scene. One person is believed to have witnessed the horror. A file has been passed to the coroner and an inquest into Ms Damarell's death will be opened in due course. SkyHigh Skydiving confirmed the death in a statement and said that they had been given 'all indications' from police that 'this was a deliberate act'. A spokesman said: 'It is with great sadness that we confirm a tragic incident took place on 28 April 2025 involving a valued member of our community. 'All indications from the police and British Skydiving are that this was a deliberate act taken to end her own life. 'This heartbreaking news has deeply affected all who knew her, and our thoughts are with her family and friends as they face this unimaginable loss. 'At this incredibly difficult time, we ask for privacy and compassion for those grieving.' The centre added: 'If you are struggling or in emotional distress, please know that you are not alone. Support is available. 'We urge anyone in crisis to speak to someone or reach out to a mental health professional. Even in the darkest moments, there is help and hope.' A Durham Constabulary spokesperson confirmed: 'A woman sadly died following a skydiving incident near Peterlee. 'Police officers and colleagues from the ambulance service were called to the incident in Shotton Colliery at around 10.30am on Sunday (April 27). 'Sadly, a woman in her thirties was pronounced dead at the scene. Her death is not being treated as suspicious and a file will now be prepared for the coroner.' A North East Ambulance Service spokesperson added: 'We were called to an incident at Shotton Colliery in County Durham on Sunday 27 April at 10:17. 'We dispatched one ambulance crew and one specialist paramedic to the incident.' Wreford Farm released a statement via Facebook, which read: 'Tragically, last Sunday 27/4/25 a woman lost her life after a parachute incident/accident, please join us in saying a prayer for her and her family, we ask the Lord to accept her into the kingdom of heaven and strength to her family. 'We ask for our own and farms privacy for this deeply upsetting matter to be respected. God bless.' It is the third skydiving fatality in the Peterlee area since 2016. Sam Cornwell died during a jump at the South West Industrial Estate in April 2024. And in September 2016, 49-year-old Pamela Gower, from Hebburn, died during a charity skydive at Peterlee Parachute Centre.
