Jade Damarell, a 32-year-old marketing manager from Caerphilly, Wales, and an experienced skydiver, died tragically on April 27, 2025, after falling 15,500 feet during a skydive at Shotton Airfield in County Durham. Her death, which sent shockwaves through the tight-knit skydiving community and beyond, was ruled a suicide by the coroner after an inquest revealed a series of heartbreaking details about her final hours and the circumstances leading up to the fatal jump.
Damarell was widely respected in both her professional and skydiving circles. According to BBC and Daily Star, she had completed between 400 and 500 jumps in her lifetime, and just the day before her death, she successfully executed six jumps. Friends described her as a bright, adventurous free spirit who lived with immense energy, passion, and love. Her family, in a statement following the inquest, said she "touched countless lives with her warmth and kindness."
The details of Jade’s final day paint a sobering picture. The night before her death, she ended her eight-month relationship with her boyfriend, Ben Goodfellow, a fellow skydiver she had met through the sport. Goodfellow, 26, confirmed during the inquest that the breakup had occurred just hours before her last jump. Early in the morning on April 27, around 2:30am, Jade created a folder of notes on her phone, including messages to her family apologizing and thanking them for their support, as well as passwords for her financial accounts. As reported by The Mirror, she also left instructions on her phone's lock screen explaining how to access her handset and further details about her finances.
On the morning of her death, Jade was seen having breakfast at 8:30am at the skydiving center. By 10:00am, she was preparing for her final jump. The weather that day was described as good, and all of her skydiving equipment was found to be in working order. However, crucially, her Automatic Activation Device (AAD), which is designed to deploy a reserve parachute if the main one fails or is not activated, had been switched off. According to British Skydiving and the inquest testimony, Jade made no attempt to deploy either her main or reserve parachute during the descent. She was not wearing a helmet camera for the jump, and toxicology tests later confirmed she had no drugs or alcohol in her system at the time.
Coroner Dr Leslie Hamilton, presiding over the inquest at Crook, County Durham, concluded that Jade intended to take her own life. The post-mortem examination at the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle, conducted by Dr James Henry, determined that she died from blunt trauma after striking the ground at speeds estimated to be around 120 mph. Dr Hamilton said, “on the balance of probabilities,” Jade’s actions showed clear intent, and he offered his condolences to her family and friends, who attended the hearing and provided statements about her life and legacy.
Her family’s response to the tragedy has been marked by a blend of deep grief and a desire to honor Jade’s memory through openness about mental health. In a statement shared with BBC and The Mirror, her parents, Liz and Andrew Samuel, described Jade as “brilliant, beautiful, brave and truly extraordinary.” They went on: “A bright, adventurous, free spirit, she lived with immense energy, passion and love and touched countless lives with her warmth and kindness. By speaking openly and without shame, we hope to contribute to a culture where mental ill-health is met with kindness and support, and where people in deep distress, and those around them, feel seen, believed and able to reach for support without fear of judgment.”
Sky-High Skydiving, the company based at Shotton Airfield, also issued a statement following the inquest, confirming that all indications from police and British Skydiving pointed to Jade’s death as 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,” the company stated.
In the days following her death, Jade’s mother, Liz Samuels, honored her daughter’s memory in a profoundly personal way—by participating in a tandem skydive at the same airfield where Jade’s life ended. This gesture, reported by Daily Star and other outlets, was both a tribute and a testament to the enduring bonds of family and the healing power of shared passions. “Skydiving and its fantastic community meant so much to Jade and we’re incredibly comforted by how admired, respected and deeply loved she was,” Liz said. “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.”
To further celebrate Jade’s life and legacy, her family launched a GoFundMe campaign in her name, with proceeds benefiting the Make-A-Wish Foundation UK. The fund aims to help others live out their dreams, reflecting Jade’s own adventurous spirit and her commitment to bringing joy to others. As her family shared, “Some stars are so bright, they burn through their time too quickly, but their light never truly fades.”
The outpouring of support from the skydiving community and the public has been significant, with many sharing memories and tributes online. Skydivers from across the UK have spoken about Jade’s infectious enthusiasm and her willingness to help newcomers to the sport. Sky-High Skydiving and the broader ‘SkyFam’ community have also been praised by the family for their professionalism and compassion throughout the investigation and aftermath.
Mental health organizations, including the Samaritans, have reiterated the importance of support and open dialogue in the wake of Jade’s death. The Samaritans operate a free helpline, available 24/7 at 116 123, and encourage anyone struggling to reach out for help. Jade’s family has expressed hope that by sharing her story, they can help reduce stigma and create a more supportive environment for those experiencing mental distress.
Jade Damarell’s life, though tragically cut short, continues to inspire conversations about adventure, kindness, and the urgent need for compassion around mental health. Her legacy, as her family and friends remind us, is one of light, courage, and the enduring impact of a life lived with passion and generosity.
