Experienced Skydiver’s Death Ruled a Suicide
A British skydiver, Jade Damarrell, tragically lost her life during a skydive earlier this year, just one day after ending her relationship with her partner, as confirmed by authorities.
Damarrell, who had over 500 successful jumps in her career, fell from 15,500 feet at Shotton Coal Mine in Durham County on April 27. According to coroner Leslie Hamilton, her death was caused by blunt trauma injuries, and it has been officially classified as a suicide.
Hamilton also shared insights from Damarrell’s former partner, Ben Goodfellow, who is 26. It was reported that the pair had been dating for about eight months and were said to be very close.
An anonymous friend explained, “They were inseparable.” The day before her tragic fall, Ben ended their relationship, and he went to work the following day, which is when Damarrell made her final jump.
It remains unclear who officially ended the relationship before Damarrell’s death. The investigation indicated that she completed six skydiving jumps the day prior. In her last jump, Damarrell intentionally did not pull her parachute’s main cord and turned off an automatic deployment device, as noted by Hamilton.
Typically, Damarrell would wear a camera during her dives, but she chose not to during her last leap.
The investigation concluded that Damarrell, who had striking blue eyes and was described as a very experienced skydiver, intended to take her own life.
Instructions were found on her phone, detailing how to access her accounts after her death. A note to her family expressed gratitude and apologies, outlining her financial situation.
Her family accepted the coroner’s ruling and thanked the skydiving community for their support, highlighting how much they loved and respected her.
They described her as “glorious, beautiful, brave, and truly extraordinary.”
If you or someone you know is struggling with similar issues, please reach out to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-Talk (8255) or the Crisis Text Line at 741741.
