Gym owner Karen Salkilld faked her own death and posed as a partner to claim nearly $500,000 in insurance

The owner of a gym faked her own death as part of an elaborate plot in which she posed as her own partner in order to collect an insurance payout of nearly $500,000.

Karen Salkilld, 42, was arrested in March after making an insurance claim on behalf of her partner, falsely claiming she had died in a car crash in Broome.

The lawsuit involved a number of forged documents, including a death certificate, a delegate letter from the Coroner’s Court of Western Australia and a death inquest report, all of which were forged.

The insurance company then transferred $477,520.26 to a bank account that Ms. Salkilld had set up in her partner’s name.

There is no indication that her partner was involved in the crime.

The conspiracy began to unravel when the fitness trainer’s bank noticed the suspicious account and subsequently froze it.

In a desperate attempt to access the funds, Ms Salkilld went to the Palmyra police station, carrying several identification documents certified by an officer, and her attempt to unlock the account was unsuccessful.

When Nine News approached her in a Perth car park, she was asked: “Why did you fake your own death?”

Frightened, she replied, “What the hell? Who are you? I’m not talking to you.”

The reporter continued: “How could you think you could get away with this? You are accused of serious fraud.”

Mrs Salkilld then replied: “Is this a joke?”

The former East Fremantle Sharks assistant coach and mother of two has been charged with fraud and intentional fraud using false documents and faces up to seven years in prison.

She pleaded guilty and her sentencing in district court is scheduled for next month.

She is believed to run an F45 gym in Perth.