On April 27, 2025, the skydiving community and the world at large were struck by the tragic loss of Jade Damarell, a 32-year-old marketing manager and passionate skydiver from Caerphilly, Wales. Known for her vibrant spirit and deep love for skydiving, Jade Damarell had completed over 500 jumps, making her a highly experienced member of the tight-knit skydiving community. However, her final jump from 15,500 feet at Shotton Colliery, County Durham, ended in a heartbreaking event that was later ruled a suicide by Coroner Leslie Hamilton.
A Life of Adventure and Passion
Jade Damarell was no stranger to the skies. Born in Kowloon, Hong Kong, and raised in Caerphilly, Wales, she lived a life filled with energy, adventure, and kindness. Her passion for skydiving was evident in her extensive experience, having completed between 400 and 500 jumps, including 11 in the 48 hours leading up to her final jump.
Friends described her as “mad for the sport,” noting that she had completed around 80 jumps in 2025 alone. Her social media presence, particularly on Facebook, showcased her love for skydiving, with images capturing her soaring through the skies, a testament to her skill and enthusiasm. Jade’s dedication to skydiving was not just a personal pursuit but a communal one.
She was a cherished member of the Sky-High Skydiving community in County Durham, where she had been living in lodgings used by skydivers. Her infectious energy and warmth made her a beloved figure, and her skills as a skydiver were admired by peers and instructors alike. Bryn Chaffe, co-owner of Sky-High Skydiving, noted that on the morning of her final jump, Jade Damarell was seen eating toast in the café, appearing as her usual self, with no outward signs of distress.
Her family, particularly her parents Liz and Andrew Samuel, spoke of her as a “brilliant, beautiful, brave, and truly extraordinary person.” They highlighted her adventurous spirit and her ability to touch countless lives with her kindness and generosity. Jade’s mother, Liz, had even joined her daughter for a tandem skydive in August 2024, an experience she described as a “bucket list moment,” marveling at Jade’s skill as she free-flew “like a ninja.” This shared experience underscored the deep bond between Jade and her family, as well as her ability to inspire those around her to embrace adventure.
Despite her outwardly vibrant life, Jade Damarell’s final days were marked by personal turmoil. The inquest into her death revealed that she had ended an eight-month relationship with her boyfriend, Ben Goodfellow, a fellow skydiver, the night before her fatal jump. This emotional upheaval, combined with the deliberate actions she took during her final skydive, painted a complex picture of a woman grappling with unseen struggles.
The Tragic Final Jump
On the morning of April 27, 2025, Jade Damarell embarked on what would be her final skydive at Sky-High Skydiving in Shotton Colliery. The day was marked by good weather, and Jade had completed six successful jumps the previous day, with all her equipment functioning as intended. However, this jump was different. Unlike her usual practice, Jade did not wear her GoPro camera, which she typically used to capture her dives.
More critically, she made no attempt to deploy either her main or reserve parachute, both of which were later confirmed to be in full working order. Additionally, she had switched off her Automatic Activation Device (AAD), a safety mechanism designed to deploy the reserve parachute automatically if a skydiver is unable to do so.
The inquest, held at Crook Civic Centre in County Durham on August 21, 2025, provided chilling details about the incident. Jade Damarell fell from 15,500 feet, reaching speeds of approximately 120 miles per hour during a 60-second freefall, before crashing onto farmland near Fleming Field. A post-mortem examination at the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle confirmed that she died from blunt force trauma, with toxicology tests showing no presence of drugs or alcohol.
Detective Inspector Andrew Stephenson of Durham Police, who attended the scene, found that Jade Damarell had landed on her back, and her phone contained instructions on its lock screen for accessing a Notes folder. This folder contained messages to her family, apologizing and thanking them for their support, as well as details of her financial accounts.
Coroner Leslie Hamilton, after reviewing the evidence, concluded that Jade Damarell’s death was a suicide. He noted that her deliberate choices—not deploying her parachutes, turning off the AAD, and forgoing her camera—indicated her intent to end her life. The inquest also heard from a friend who stated, “This wasn’t a skydiving accident. We believe she intended to take her life, sadly. She chose not to open her parachute and landed on her back.”
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Sky-High Skydiving had initially suggested in a statement that the incident was a “deliberate act,” a conclusion supported by the police and British Skydiving’s investigations, which ruled out any equipment failure or foul play. The skydiving community was devastated by the loss. Jeff Montgomery, head of safety and training at British Skydiving, expressed deep condolences, describing the incident as “extremely tragic.”
The organization formed a Board of Inquiry to investigate the accident, with findings to be shared with the police, the coroner, and the Civil Aviation Authority. The community’s grief was compounded by the fact that this was the third skydiving fatality in the Peterlee area since 2016, following the deaths of Pamela Gower in 2016 and Sam Cornwell in 2024, both due to parachute malfunctions.
Mental Health and the Skydiving Community
Jade Damarell’s death has sparked important conversations about mental health, particularly within the high-adrenaline world of extreme sports. Skydiving, while exhilarating, is a sport that attracts individuals with a penchant for thrill-seeking and pushing boundaries. Yet, as Jade’s story illustrates, even those who appear to thrive in such environments may be battling internal struggles that go unnoticed.
Her family’s response to the coroner’s findings was both heartbreaking and inspiring, as they chose to speak openly about her death to promote mental health awareness. They emphasized the need for a culture where mental ill-health is met with kindness, support, and understanding, urging those in distress to seek help without fear of judgment.
The skydiving community, often described as a tight-knit “SkyFam,” has rallied to support Jade’s family and honor her memory. Sky-High Skydiving handled the tragedy with professionalism and compassion, assisting with the investigation and helping organize a tribute that culminated in Liz Samuel’s tandem jump to honor her daughter.
The community’s response underscores the importance of fostering supportive environments where individuals feel safe to share their struggles. Jade’s parents expressed gratitude for the compassion shown by Sky-High and the broader skydiving community, noting how much the sport and its people meant to their daughter.
The broader implications of Jade Damarell’s story extend beyond skydiving to the realm of mental health in high-risk professions and hobbies. Extreme sports enthusiasts often project an image of fearlessness and resilience, but this can mask vulnerabilities. Jade’s case highlights the need for mental health resources tailored to such communities, where the pressure to maintain a strong exterior may discourage individuals from seeking help. Her family’s call for open dialogue about mental health resonates with broader societal efforts to destigmatize mental illness and provide accessible support systems.
In memory of Jade Damarell, her family established a GoFundMe campaign to support the Make-A-Wish Foundation UK, reflecting her generous spirit and desire to make a positive impact. They also shared resources for mental health support, including contact information for the Samaritans, available 24/7 at 116 123 in the UK, and Mind Cymru, reachable at 0300 123 3393. These resources serve as a reminder that help is available, even in the darkest moments.
Jade Damarell’s life was a testament to the power of passion, adventure, and community. Her tragic death, while devastating, has opened a vital conversation about mental health, urging us all to look beyond the surface and offer support to those who may be struggling silently. As her family poignantly stated, “Some stars are so bright they burn through their time too quickly – but their light never truly fades.” Jade’s light continues to shine through the memories she left behind and the lessons her story imparts.