A skydiver feared to have taken her own life in a 10,000ft fall from the sky had split with her boyfriend shortly before the tragedy, it’s understood.
Jade Damarell, 32, an experienced parachutist who had accomplished more than 400 jumps, died instantly after hitting the ground during a jump in Shotton Colliery, Co Durham.
Police quickly ruled out any suspicious circumstances and were understood to have discovered notes disclosing her intentions.
MailOnline understands that Ms Damarell, from Caerphilly, south Wales, had broken up with her boyfriend the day prior to taking to the skies.
She had been in a relationship with Ben Goodfellow, 26, also a keen skydiver, for around six to eight months.
The couple had lived together in a double room at a property rented out to parachutists near to the airfield for a number of months.
One friend said: ‘The two of them were inseparable.
‘They spent all their time together, they didn’t really engage with anyone else. They did skydives together all the time.
‘They had been living in the lodgings since Christmas and had been together a couple more months before that.
‘The night before Jade died, Ben called off the relationship.
‘He went to work the next day, and that’s when Jade fell to her death.’
Mr Goodfellow, a technician at car manufacturer Nissan, did not respond to requests for comment.
He is also the lead singer and guitarist in Sunderland indie band Post Rome, whose songs have been featured on BBC Introducing.
The band cancelled a gig in the wake of the tragedy citing ‘unforeseen circumstances’.
Initial reports had assumed Ms Damarell’s death on April 27 was a tragic accident.
But SkyHigh Skydiving later issued a statement saying that her death was suspected to have been ‘a deliberate act’.
An inquest opened into Ms Damarell’s death this week heard there was ‘no reason to suspect equipment failure’.
A friend claimed a suicide note was found by police ‘referencing the break up’.
They said: ‘I know Jade had broken it off with Ben a few times, but the Saturday was the first time he had called it off with her.
‘Ben is a quiet guy – he is absolutely distraught by what has happened.’
Ms Damarell, who worked as a marketing manager for Silver Spoon after graduating from Leeds university, had undertaken more than 80 jumps this year.
Friends said her parachute did not open as she plunged at speeds of more than 120mph.
In a statement, Ms Damarell’s mother Liz and father Andrew paid tribute to their ‘beloved daughter’.
They said: ‘It is with immense sadness that we share the loss of our beloved daughter, Jade.
‘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.’
The tribute continued: ‘Professionally, Jade was exceptionally talented and admired for her creativity and dedication in marketing.
‘Personally, Jade had recently begun training for her pilot’s licence and as a keen skydiver, Jade found freedom and purpose.
‘Skydiving and its fantastic community meant so much to Jade, and we’re incredibly comforted by how admired, respected, and deeply loved she was.
‘We miss her beyond words, but Jade’s love, brilliance, courage, and light will live on in our family and among all those who knew and loved her. Some stars are so bright, they burn through their time too quickly – but their light never truly fades.
‘We want to extent our heartfelt thanks to everyone in the emergency services and the local first responders, as well as the skydiving community. Your care and compassion mean more to us than we can express.
‘Lastly, if you are struggling, please reach out. Talk to someone – a friend, loved one, or professional. You are never alone.’
Police and emergency services were called to Wreford’s Farm in Shotton Colliery, where she landed, but Jade was pronounced dead at the scene.
One person – a fellow skydiver – was believed to have witnessed the horror.
Friend Danni Willis, who worked at SkyHigh Skydiving described Ms Damarell as ‘a beautiful girl inside and out’.
She had previously been married to a Leeds-based lawyer but was said to have divorced.
SkyHigh Skydiving confirmed the death in a statement, claiming ‘all indications’ from police were that ‘this was a deliberate act’.
A spokesman said: ‘It is with great sadness that we confirm a tragic incident took place on 28 April, 2025, involving a valued member of our community.
‘All indications from the police and British Skydiving are that this was a deliberate act.
‘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.’
A friend of Ms Damarell, who was born in Hong Kong, claimed she ‘chose not to open her parachute’ during the fatal descent.
They said: ‘This wasn’t a skydiving accident – we believe she intended to take her life, sadly.
‘She skydived with someone else, broke off and turned onto her back and impacted.
‘She chose not to open her parachute and she landed on her back.
‘Everyone is devastated and deeply traumatised by what happened because she was very much part of the skydiving community.
‘She was mad for it. In the two days before she died, she did 11 jumps. She must have done 80 this year.’
SkyHigh Skydiving confirmed the death in a statement and said that they had been given ‘all indications’ from police that ‘this was a deliberate act’.
A spokesman said: ‘It is with great sadness that we confirm a tragic incident took place on 28 April 2025 involving a valued member of our community.
‘All indications from the police and British Skydiving are that this was a deliberate act.
‘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.’
The centre added: ‘If you are struggling or in emotional distress, please know that you are not alone. Support is available. We urge anyone in crisis to speak to someone or reach out to a mental health professional. Even in the darkest moments, there is help and hope.’
An inquest into the circumstances of her death was opened and adjourned at Crook Coroners’s Court, Co. Durham, on Thursday.
During a short two-minute hearing, area coroner Jeremy Chipperfield heard how there was ‘no reason to suspect equipment failure’.
Coroner’s officer Alexis Blighe said the provisional cause of Ms Damarell’s death was listed as ‘blunt trauma’.
Ms Blighe said: ’This 32-year-old female was born on October 6, 1992, at Kowloon, Hong Kong.
‘Her last employment status and occupation was a marketing manager.
‘She died on April 27, 2025, on farmland near Fleming Field, Shotton Colliery, Co Durham.
‘I understand the circumstances to be that Ms Damarell was involved in a parachute incident on April 27, 2025.
‘On May 2, 2025, Dr James Henry conducted a post-mortem examination at Newcastle Royal Victoria Infirmary mortuary and gave cause of death as follows: 1a) blunt trauma.”
The inquest was told that Ms Damarell’s body was identified by Bryn Chaffe, the chief instructor at the skydiving club.
Mr Chipperfield adjourned the inquest to August 21.
Mr Goodfellow, of Sunderland, did not respond to requests to comment.
