A talented British skydiver, Jade Damarell, tragically died during a jump on April 27 in County Durham, northern England. The 32-year-old, who had over 500 successful jumps, took her life just a day after splitting from her partner, Ben Goodfellow.
After an inquest, Coroner Leslie Hamilton ruled her death a suicide. Damarell intentionally chose not to open her main parachute and disabled her backup system, which would have deployed an automatic parachute under certain circumstances. Officials confirmed that her equipment was still functional after the fall.
Friends told the media that Damarell and Goodfellow had ended their relationship the night before her death. She had completed six jumps that day but chose not to wear her camera for her final descent.
Her family has accepted the coroner’s findings and expressed their gratitude for the support from the skydiving community, noting how much Damarell was loved and respected. They described her as “brilliant, beautiful, brave, and truly extraordinary,” and emphasized their commitment to raising awareness about mental health issues, encouraging kindness and support for those struggling.
If you or someone you know is struggling, please reach out to a mental health professional or contact the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988.
