A woman in her 30s tragically lost her life following a skydiving accident at a farm in County Durham last weekend.
The incident occurred at Wreford’s Farm in Shotton Colliery, where emergency services rushed to the scene early Sunday morning.
Emergency Response and Confirmation of Death
Despite the rapid response from emergency crews, the woman was pronounced dead at the scene.
Durham Constabulary confirmed the news, stating that the circumstances surrounding her death are not considered suspicious.
A spokesperson for the police provided further details: “Police officers and ambulance service colleagues were called to an incident in Shotton Colliery around 10:30 a.m. on Sunday, April 27.
“Sadly, a woman in her thirties was declared dead at the scene.
“A file will be prepared for the coroner, but at this point, the death is not being treated as suspicious.”
Reactions from Wreford Farm and Skydiving Community
Wreford’s Farm, where the incident took place, shared a heartfelt message on Facebook, expressing their grief and asking for prayers for the woman’s family.
The post read: “Tragically, on Sunday, April 27, 2025, a woman lost her life in a parachute accident.
“Please join us in praying for her and her family.
“We ask for privacy at this deeply upsetting time and for respect for our farm as we cope with this tragic event.”
SkyHigh Skydiving Peterlee, a nearby skydiving company, also responded to the incident with a statement.
“We are deeply saddened by the tragic event on April 28, 2025, involving a cherished member of our community.
“This heartbreaking news has affected everyone who knew her.
“Our thoughts are with her family and friends during this unimaginable loss, and we request privacy and compassion during this time of mourning.”
A Pattern of Skydiving Fatalities in the Area
This is the third fatal skydiving incident in the Peterlee area since 2016.
The previous fatalities occurred in April 2024 and September 2016, both involving individuals connected to the skydiving community.
In 2024, videographer Sam Cornwell tragically died when his parachute failed to open during a jump at the South West Industrial Estate.
Similarly, Pamela Gower, 49, died while participating in a charity skydive at the Peterlee Parachute Centre in 2016.
Moving Forward
As the community mourns, the investigation into this latest incident continues, with officials preparing a report for the coroner.
The focus now is on providing support to those grieving and respecting the privacy of the family and those directly affected.