Coroner Confirms Experienced Skydiver Took Her Own Life After Jumping 10,000ft Following Break-Up

⚠️ Warning: This article discusses suicide, which some readers may find upsetting.

A coroner has released further details surrounding the death of a skydiver who tragically lost her life earlier this year.

Jade Damarell, who was described as a ‘very experienced’ skydiver, had successfully completed more than 500 jumps throughout her career before her life came to a devastating end on April 27.

The 32-year-old died after plunging 15,000 feet into a field located in Shotton Colliery, County Durham, UK.

An inquest opening on May 22 revealed that a post-mortem examination carried out at the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle concluded her cause of death was ‘blunt trauma’.

At the time, coroner Jeremy Chipperfield confirmed that there was no evidence suggesting equipment malfunction played any part in her death.

This month, however, a full inquest led by coroner Leslie Hamilton officially ruled her death as a suicide.

Jade Damarell died as a result of blunt trauma from her fallFacebook/ Jade Damarell
During the hearing, the coroner referred to a note from Damarell’s partner, who was also a skydiver, stating that the couple had ‘ended their relationship the night before’ (via The Guardian).

Evidence showed that on the day of her death she had already completed six jumps, but for her final dive she made the decision not to deploy her main parachute. Investigators also found that she had turned off a device that would normally have triggered the parachute automatically at a set altitude and speed.

In addition, unlike her usual practice, she chose not to wear her camera during that last jump.

The inquest also heard that she had left clear instructions on her phone lock screen about how to access the device after her death. A police officer discovered this message at the scene, along with a note on the phone addressed to her family.

In that note, she ‘apologized and thanked them for their support’ and included information about her finances to make things easier for them.

Her family have accepted the coroner’s ruling and expressed gratitude toward the skydiving community for the compassion and kindness they have shown during this heartbreaking time.

She was said to have completed over 500 jumpsFacebook/ Jade Damarell
Her loved ones described her as ‘brilliant, beautiful, brave and truly extraordinary’. They also emphasized their wish to speak ‘openly and without shame’ about her passing, hoping to ‘contribute to a culture where mental ill-health is met with kindness and support, and where people in deep distress, and those around them, feel seen, believed and able to reach for support without fear of judgment’.

Following the news of her death, a Sky-High Skydiving spokesperson said: “It is with great sadness that we confirm a tragic incident took place involving a valued member of our community.”

“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.”

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