Jade Damarell, a 32-year-old British skydiver, died by suicide just one day after her eight-month relationship with her partner ended. The incident occurred in northern England when she intentionally chose not to deploy her parachute, resulting in her fatal fall into a field in County Durham. Authorities confirmed her death as a result of blunt force trauma, and the coroner, Leslie Hamilton, ruled it a suicide during an inquest on Thursday.
Damarell, who had completed over 500 successful skydiving jumps, intentionally disabled her automatic activation device, which is a safety feature designed to deploy a backup parachute if the main one fails. Despite her equipment being fully functional, she made the deliberate decision to end her life. The coroner’s report detailed that her relationship with Ben Goodfellow, a fellow skydiver, had recently ended, which the inquest indicated played a significant role in her decision.
Goodfellow, who was 26 at the time, was the one who broke up with Damarell the night before her death, according to a friend cited by the Daily Mail. The friend stated that despite their relationship having ended, he went to work the next day, unaware of what was to come. The friend’s comments highlight the personal and emotional turmoil that can lead to such a tragic outcome.
Damarell had been known for her skill and passion for skydiving, often wearing a camera to document her jumps. However, she did not include one during her last jump, a detail noted by the Daily Mail. The lack of a camera may have contributed to a sense of detachment from her usual routine, which could have affected her mental state.
The skydiving community has expressed its condolences, with Damarell’s family stating they were