Beauty queen Jessica Whalley, 25, ‘died after falling from her horse’ days before her birthday at Michael Owen’s stables
A BEAUTY queen died after falling from her horse at Michael Owen’s racing yard, her best pal says.
Jessica Whalley, 25, could not be revived by paramedics after collapsing at Manor House Stables, Cheshire, on Tuesday.
Jessica’s best pal in Newmarket when she worked at stables in the racing HQ town, last night spoke of her shock and surprise at news of the transport manager’s sudden death.
Allison Samuel told The Sun: “I just couldn’t believe it- we loved her dearly.
“She was such a lovely girl who really enjoyed her job. She was popular – everyone liked her and she was a lovely young woman. This is so unexpected, she was so fit and healthy.
“And beautiful too – she could have been a model. It’s such a tragedy – it would have been her 26th birthday this Saturday.
”We have been told that it was a very sudden and [she] fell from her horse – so it has come as a terrible shock.”
Allison, who lives in Newmarket added: “After her parents split up she got close to her mum and when the trainer Hugo Palmer went up north, she went too.
“She was popular and determined to make a career out of racing – she wanted to be head girl at a yard – and she would have been a success.”
Michael Owen, 43, was said to have broken down “in tears” following the tragedy at the stables he co-owns with Love Island star daughter Gemma, 19, who competes for Great Britain in dressage.
In a statement, Manor Farm Stables paid tribute to Jessica who was a “much valued member” of the yard.
They said: “It is with deep sadness that we have to announce that a much-valued member of our team died at work this morning.
“The family have been informed and both the family and the team at Manor House request privacy at this time.”
Hundreds of others paid their own tributes, with one former colleague saying: “A lovely, pleasant person to have worked with! RIP.”
While another said: “Sad day, very sad condolences to everyone and best wishes to the whole team.”
Known by pals as Jess, she represented the UK in the Miss Tourism Universe pageant in 2019, which was screened on MTV and held in Beirut.
In a statement on Tuesday, Cheshire Police said: “At around 8.50am today, police were made aware that a 25-year-old woman had collapsed at a stables on Old Coach Road, Malpas.
“Emergency services attended the location and, despite the best efforts of all those involved, the woman sadly died at the scene.
“The death is not being treated as suspicious and her next of kin have been informed. A file will be prepared for the coroner.”