Adam Harrison, chiropractic student at Bournemouth’s Health Sciences University and skydive instructor, and Belinda Taylor died in skydiving accident after their parachute did not open in Devon.
An inquest into his death opened earlier this week at Exeter County Hall after the paid fell to their deaths in a field on a road from Turnbury Cross on June 13, 2025.
“From the very first moment you met Adam, you felt it — that spark. He didn’t simply enter a room; he lit it up. With boundless energy, an infectious laugh, and a natural warmth that made everyone feel like a lifelong friend, Adam was a true original. He was, as so many have said, “one of a kind,” a beautiful soul whose kindness and charisma left a mark on everyone lucky enough to know him.
“Adam had a way of turning ordinary days into unforgettable adventures. Whether he was swinging through trees at Go Ape, chasing dreams in the sky as a tandem instructor, or lifting spirits at every party, he carried a joy that was impossible to ignore. He made life feel lighter — funnier, freer, more alive.”
“He was everyone’s cheerleader, a jokester with a sharp wit and a heart of gold, the kind of friend who could always be counted on to show up — often with a sassy remark, a cheeky grin, and a roly-poly on the way home. He lived life boldly and authentically, unafraid to be “wonderfully weird,” and in doing so, he gave others permission to do the same.
“And when he loved, he loved deeply. His closest friends who saw Adam with Chelsea knew what real love looked like. It shone in the way he held her, in the way they laughed together, in their shared dreams and adventures. They were building a beautiful life together — one filled with promise, joy, and a love that was felt by everyone around them.
“Though we mourn the loss of a truly extraordinary person, we also celebrate the profound joy he brought to the world. We were privileged to know him, to walk beside him, to laugh with him — and to be loved by him.
“To them, he would say: “Keep flying. Don’t let this stop you. Fly safe. I love you all.”
Clear skies and big smiles.”
“To Adam you were our son, brother, partner, uncle. You never just walked into a room — you arrived. Arms wide, head tilted, grin already forming. That “Hey Buddy!” energy — always full of life, cheekiness, and love. You made everything brighter. If you weren’t cracking a joke, you were giving one of your famously long hugs — often with a surprise tongue in the ear, just to make sure we remembered it.
“There’s so much sorrow in losing you — so much life left unlived, love left unspoken, future left undone. But we carry you with us. In every laugh. Every story. Every tiny moment that reminds us of your warmth, your mischief, your heart”.
You can read the tribute in full below.
