'No reason to suspect equipment failure' in fatal skydive, inquest told
An inquest into the death of Jade Damarell, from Caerphilly, South Wales, hears she died after crashing onto farmland in Shotton Colliery, County Durham, last month.
Thursday 22 May 2025 12:59, UK
There was "no reason to suspect equipment failure" after a woman died while skydiving, an inquest has heard.
Jade Damarell died after crashing onto farmland in Shotton Colliery, County Durham, on 27 April.
At a brief inquest opening hearing on Thursday, coroner's officer Alexis Blighe told the court Ms Damarell was born in Kowloon, Hong Kong, and lived in Caerphilly, South Wales.
Ms Blighe said she understood the 32-year-old was "involved in a parachute incident on 27 April".
A post-mortem examination found that she had died as a result of "blunt trauma".
The court heard the body was identified by Bryn Chaffe, the chief instructor at the skydiving firm Ms Damarell used.
Coroner Jeremy Chipperfield asked Ms Blighe: "There's no reason to suspect equipment failure?"
Ms Blighe replied: "No reason at all."
The inquest was adjourned until 21 August.
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After her death, her family had told reporters: "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."
Following Ms Damarell's death, Sky-High Skydiving, which is based at Shotton airfield, said: "It is with great sadness that we confirm a tragic incident took place involving a valued member of our community."