Skydiver, 49, with dwarfism fell 15,000ft to her death when her parachute failed to open just weeks after being given green light to fly alone
A SKYDIVER who plunged to her death after her parachute failed to open was on her first ever solo jump, pals revealed yesterday.
Pamela Gower, 49, who had dwarfism, recently gained permission to use specially adapted kit.
She had completed seven tandem jumps before the tragedy on Saturday.
A friend said: “She had done a few in Spain recently after going on holiday to jump.
“She bought her parachute at the beginning of the year so she could have her own equipment.
“This was her first ever solo jump.”
Brave Pamela — who had jumped from 15,000ft — came down on to a parked car in Shotton Colliery, Co Durham, after her chute is said to have failed.
Witnesses described seeing her rapidly spiralling down to earth entangled in the canopy cords.
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Some residents in Weldon Close, where she crash- landed, were visibly upset yesterday.
Pamela described herself on Facebook as a “crazy trainee skydiver”.
She shared snaps of herself taking part in the sport and just weeks ago she wrote: “Nothing makes me more happy than skydiving, can’t wait for the next jump!!!!”
Pamela lived alone in Hebburn, South Tyneside, and had worked for Remploy, a recruitment agency for disabled people, for the last 31 years.
Just days before the tragedy she told pals at the Sunderland branch she was at risk of being made redundant.
However, they stressed that she did not appear depressed.
Pamela had even started to train as a skydiving instructor with Peterlee Parachute Centre. She did her first jump in Spain to raise money for Cancer Research UK.
She later returned there to make six more tandem jumps using specially adapted kit.
On July 28, the British Parachute Association gave permission for her to use the equipment in the UK.
Grieving friends said yesterday that Pamela “lived life to the full”.
Tony Layton, 46, who had known her for 20 years, said: “She had been into skydiving for a few years.
“She was very outgoing and had a great sense of fun.
“She suffered from a form of dwarfism but she travelled a lot. She was a very adventurous person.”
His wife Lynne, 54, added: “Pamela did not let her disability rule her life.”
Family friend Margaret Simcox, 69, said: “Pamela was so determined to do as much as she could.”
Police said the British Parachute Association would be involved in the investigation into Pamela’s death.
A Durham police spokesman said: “Our thoughts are with Miss Gower’s family at this difficult time.
“They have asked to be left in peace to grieve.”
Detective Inspector Dave Cuthbert said: “This is a tragic incident.
“The lady who has died was using her own equipment and was making her first skydive in this country, having previously made parachute jumps abroad.”