Tributes to beauty queen Jessica Whalley, 25, who died after suddenly collapsing at Michael Owen’s stables
A FORMER beauty queen has been named as the woman who died suddenly at the stables owned by ex-England striker Michael Owen.
Jessica Whalley, 25, could not be revived by paramedics after collapsing at Manor House Stables, Cheshire, where she worked as a transport manager.
Owen, 43, was said to have broken down "in tears" on Tuesday after the shocking death at the stables he co-owns with daughter Gemma, 19.
Emergency services rushed to the racing yard after Ms Whalley fell ill around 8.50am, but she was tragically pronounced dead at the scene, Cheshire Police said.
Officers said the death is not being treated as suspicious and her next of kin have been informed.
Ms Whalley, known by pals as Jess, represented the UK in the Miss Tourism Universe pageant in 2019, which was screened on MTV and held in Beirut.
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She made it into to final ten contestants.
Ms Whalley’s friends Maxine Bowley and Jo Neesam both yesterday changed their Facebook profiles to photos with her.
And messages of condolences flooded their pages.
In a statement yesterday, Cheshire Police said: "At around 8.50am today, Tuesday 28 March, police were made aware that a 25-year-old woman had collapsed at a stables on Old Coach Road, Malpas.
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"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."
Jessica Mair wrote on Facebook: "So sad seeing him [Michael Owen] and all his staff in tears today .. after such a shock to them .. such a young age.
"No health problems 25 is no age .. life really is too short for we never really know how long we have .. thoughts go out to her family and friends."
George McGrath, CEO of the National Association of Racing Staff, described Miss Whalley as "much loved".
He said: "Jessica had worked in Newmarket for a time. She had gone to rejoin Hugo Palmer in Cheshire.
"She was a much loved and respected member of the racing community and taken from us at much too early in age."
Jockey Zander Voy added: "It’s heartbreaking to hear Jess lost her life today at the tender age of 25."
Ms Whalley also worked for Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, deputy ruler of Dubai, UAE, who owns a large international network of thoroughbred stables.
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In 2018, she posted a photo of the Gulf state. She wrote: "I cannot wait for this to be home for the next 6 months."
In official documents published by the Office of the Traffic Commissioner this month, she is listed as one of the transport managers at Manor House Stables.
