Beloved Author's Tragic Fall
The literary world was saddened to learn that Dame Jilly Cooper, the celebrated 88-year-old author, died from injuries sustained in a fall at her home in Bisley, Gloucestershire. An inquest into her death has officially ruled it as accidental.
The Incident and Medical Response
On the evening of 4 October 2025, the author's family discovered her after a fall. The South Western Ambulance Service was called at 5.35pm and arrived at her home by 5.56pm. Senior coroner for Gloucestershire, Katy Skerrett, stated that forensic evidence suggested Dame Jilly "fell, perhaps down some stairs, sustaining a significant head injury".
Paramedics found the author alert and able to speak, though she could only recall a "vague recollection of falling down" and complained of a severe headache. She was transported to Gloucestershire Royal Hospital for urgent care.
Catastrophic Injuries and Death
At the hospital, an urgent CT scan revealed the author had suffered a skull fracture. The medical team determined this was a "catastrophic" head injury likely to be terminal. Dame Jilly was made comfortable as her condition deteriorated. She passed away in the emergency department at 8.30am on 5 October, roughly fifteen hours after the fall, with her family by her side.
The inquest heard that the author had a history of two previous falls, one in 2018 and another in September 2024. Coroner Skerrett confirmed "there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding her fall" and extended her office's sincere condolences to the family.
Legacy of a Literary Icon
Following her death, her children, Emily Tarrant and Felix Cooper, released a moving statement, expressing their shock and describing their mother's "infectious smile and laughter". Dame Jilly Cooper was a fixture of British culture, a best-selling author whose fans included former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Queen Camilla.
She was made a Dame Commander by King Charles in May 2024. One of her most famous characters, the charismatic Rupert Campbell-Black, was recently brought to life in the 2024 Disney+ adaptation of her novel Rivals.
In a tribute from Buckingham Palace, Queen Camilla expressed her sympathies, adding a touching and fitting wish: "may her hereafter be filled with impossibly handsome men and devoted dogs." A new edition of her book, How To Survive Christmas, is scheduled for release on 13 November. A public service of thanksgiving will be held at Southwark Cathedral at a later date.
