Jessica Whalley, a former beauty queen, has been identified as the lady who died unexpectedly at the stables owned by ex-England footballer Michael Owen.
After collapsing at Manor House Stables in Cheshire, where she worked as a transport manager, the 25-year-old could not be revived by paramedics.
Owen, 43, was said to have sobbed “in tears” on Tuesday following the tragic murder at the stables he co-owns with his daughter Gemma, 19.
Emergency services were called to the racing yard around 8.50 a.m. after the woman became ill, but she was tragically pronounced dead at the scene, according to Cheshire Police.
According to officers, the death is not being investigated as suspect, and her next of kin have been notified.
Ms Whalley, known by pals as Jess, also worked for Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, deputy ruler of Dubai, UAE, who owns a large international network of thoroughbred stables.
She shared a picture of the Gulf state in 2018. “I cannot wait for this to be home for the next 6 months,” she added.
She is named as one of the transport managers at Manor House Stables in formal papers released this month by the Office of the Traffic Commissioner.
In 2019, she represented the United Kingdom in the Miss Tourism Universe pageant, which was broadcast on MTV and held in Beirut.
She advanced to the top ten candidates.
Ms Whalley’s friends Maxine Bowley and Jo Neesam both updated their Facebook accounts with pictures of her yesterday.
Condolence messages filled their sites.
Cheshire officers said in a statement yesterday, “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.”
“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.”
Friend 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.”
Whalley was characterised as “much loved” by George McGrath, CEO of the National Association of Racing Staff.
“Jessica had previously worked in Newmarket,” McGrath explained. “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.”
