Former beauty queen collapses and dies at just 25
<p>Former beauty queen Jessica Whalley has been named as the woman who died at ex-English soccer star Michael Owen’s stables. </p>
<p>The 25-year-old worked at Manor House Stables in Cheshire, northwestern England, as a transport manager. </p>
<p>Reportedly, Jessica felt ill at around 8:50am, and emergency services raced to attend to her in the racing yard, but she was pronounced dead at the scene.</p>
<p>Police have stated that the tragic incident is not being treated as suspicious, explaining with their own statement that “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.</p>
<p>"Emergency services attended the location and, despite the best efforts of all those involved, the woman sadly died at the scene.</p>
<p>"The death is not being treated as suspicious and her next of kin have been informed. A file will be prepared for the coroner."</p>
<p>Michael Owen is said by <em>The Sun</em> to have been emotional in the wake of the loss, with one woman sharing on Facebook that it was “so sad seeing him and all his staff in tears today … after such a shock to them … [at] such a young age.</p>
<p>"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."</p>
<p>The National Association of Racing Staff CEO George McGrath had kind words for the late Jessica as well when he explained that she “was a much loved and respected member of the racing community and taken from us at much too early in age."</p>
<p>Manor Farm Stables later released a statement, and tribute to their “valued member”, writing that “it is with deep sadness that we have to announce that a much-valued member of our team died at work this morning.</p>
<p>"The family have been informed and both the family and the team at Manor House request privacy at this time."</p>
<p>Jessica - or ‘Jess’ to her friends - has been remembered as a hard worker, a respected member of the racing community, and a “much loved” friend. But her professional history isn’t limited to the stables, as the young woman once found passion in the beauty circuit. </p>
<p>In 2019, Jessica had the honour of representing the United Kingdom in the Miss Tourism Universe pageant, an event that took place in Beirut and aired on MTV. And in the competition, Jessica made it to the final ten. </p>
<p>And it was one of Jess’s friends who shared the final picture ever taken of Jessica, taken a mere three days before, writing alongside the picture that it was “heartbreaking to hear Jess lost her life today at the tender age of 25.</p>
<p>“She was riding out doing what she loved. We had so many great times working in Dubai.</p>
<p>“May she rest in peace.”</p>
<p><em>Images: Facebook</em></p>
