‘No reason’ to suspect equipment failure in death of woman during skydive
An inquest into the death of a woman thought to have deliberately jumped to her death during a skydive has been told there is ‘no reason to suspect equipment failure’.
Jade Damarell, 32, died after crashing onto farmland near Fleming Field, Shotton Colliery, County Durham, on April 27.
The marketing manager was said to have completed more than 400 jumps and police confirmed at the time it was not treating her death as suspicious.
Shortly after her death, a friend said: ‘This wasn’t a skydiving accident – we believe she intended to take her life, sadly.’
Jade’s parents, Liz and Andrew, also urged anyone who is ‘struggling’ to ‘please reach out’ as they paid tribute to their daughter.
They said: ‘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.’
At a brief inquest opening hearing in Crook, County Durham, coroner’s officer Alexis Blighe told the court that Jade was born in Kowloon, Hong Kong, and lived in Caerphilly, Wales.
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 her body was identified by Bryn Chaffe who was chief instructor at the skydiving firm she used.
Coroner Jeremy Chipperfield asked Ms Blighe: ‘There’s no reason to suspect equipment failure?’
Ms Blighe replied: ‘No reason at all.’
It has been previously reported that Ms Damarell was a highly experienced skydiver.
Following her death, Sky-High Skydiving said: ‘It is with great sadness that we confirm a tragic incident took place involving a valued member of our community.’
Mr Chipperfield adjourned the full inquest until August 21.
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