An experienced skydiver ‘deliberately’ fell to her death from 15,500ft after her relationship ended, a coroner has concluded.
Jade Damarell, 32, did not deploy her parachutes and switched off an automatic safety device before she crashed onto farmland near Fleming Field, Shotton Colliery, County Durham, on April 27, the inquest heard.
The marketing manager’s phone was found with instructions on how to access the device, as well as a note with an apology to her family.
The parachutist, who was born in Hong Kong and lived in Caerphilly, Wales, completed more than 500 jumps in her life and had done six jumps safely just the day before.
Coroner Leslie Hamilton gave a conclusion of suicide at Crook Civic Centre, County Durham, after finding she intended to take her own life.
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Jade’s former partner gave a statement, summarised by the coroner, which said their relationship had ended the night before her death.
The co-owner of Company Sky-High Skydiving said nothing had seemed out of the ordinary with the 32-year-old the next day when he saw her eating toast before she took to the sky, the coroner heard.
A post-mortem examination found that she died as a result of ‘blunt trauma’, with tests coming up negative for drink or drugs.
British Skydiving said an investigation found the experienced skydiver did not deploy her main or reserve parachute despite being aware she had to do so before her altitude dropped below 2,500ft.
They also concluded that all her equipment was in working order and she had switched off her parachute’s automatic activation device (AAD).
Jade usually wore a camera during her jumps but did not wear one on the morning of her death.
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Detective Inspector Andrew Stephenson, of Durham Police, said Jade had landed on her back.
The skydiver had left a note for her family in her Notes folder, ‘apologising and thanking them for their support’, his report said.
Coroner Dr Hamilton concluded that the ‘very experienced’ skydiver chose not to deploy either of her parachutes or use the AAD and that she did intend to take her own life.
Jeff Montgomery, head of safety and training at British Skydiving, said after the hearing: ‘We extend our deepest condolences to the family and friends of Jade Damarell and it is an extremely tragic incident.’
Her parents Liz and Andrew Samuel observed the hearing remotely.
After the inquest, her family said: ‘Our beloved daughter Jade was 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.’
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