A former pageant queen who tragically died while working at Michael Owen's stables is believed to have suffered a cardiac arrest. Jessica Whalley collapsed and died at Manor House Stables in Malpas, Cheshire just before 7.30am on March 28, the Liverpool Echo reports.
The 25-year-old was working as a transport manager at the stables, which is owned by the former Liverpool FC and England striker and his daughter, Love Island star Gemma Owen.
Jessica's half sister, Leonna Mayor, has now revealed that it is thought she went into cardiac arrest, despite no underlying health conditions being found in her post mortem. The Daily Mail reported the family are also waiting for the toxicology results.
Ms Mayor, a former jockey and horse racing commentator for Sky Sports and ITV, said: "She was very young and I feel the pain of my grandmother and aunt who were very close to her. As far as we know, she cantered up the gallop on the first lot, got to the top and had a cardiac arrest.
"They tried to resuscitate her for 30 minutes but they couldn't bring her back. She has since had a post-mortem and nothing has shown up. We assumed that something would come to light, a heart defect or something we didn't know was there, but it hasn't. We now have to wait for the blood tests - it's six to 12 weeks for full blood works."
Jessica, who took park in the 2019 Miss Tourism Universe pageant, was described as a "much loved and respected member of the racing community" by the National Association of Racing Staff CEO George McGrath. Posting to Twitter, former jockey Zander Voy also paid tribute: "It’s heartbreaking to hear Jess lost her life today at the tender age of 25. She was riding out doing what she loved."
Following her death, friend Jessica Muir 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."
Speaking in April, Owen described Jessica's death as "the worst day of my life". In an interview with Sky Sports Racing, he said: "It was a tragic incident that could have happened at any time. Nothing can really prepare you for something like that.
"A young girl who was supremely talented at what she did, who was massively popular, a really important member of the yard, the staff and everything else. Lots of people will be out there feeling the same thing. They will have lost somebody close to them or family member of whatever it is.
"What words can you say to describe it? Being there and being part of the whole day with the ambulance staff, who were amazing. Having to come down and tell 40 or her friends what's happened and things like that, what can you say? It was the worst day of my life."
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