Coroner says parachute failed to open

Two people died when their parachute failed to open during a tandem skydive, a coroner has said.

Inquests were opened on Tuesday into the deaths of skydiving instructor Adam Harrison and Belinda Taylor, who was strapped to him, during the incident at Dunkeswell Aerodrome, near Honiton, Devon, on 13 June.

At the hearing in Exeter, senior coroner Philip Spinney said Mr Harrison, 30, and Ms Taylor, 48, suffered multiple injuries when they crashed to the ground after a parachute the pair were using during the skydive, from 15,000ft (4.6km), did not open.

The coroner adjourned the hearing to a later date while investigations, including one by British Skydiving, into the deaths are carried out.

During the hearing, Mr Spinney said Ms Taylor was strapped to Mr Harrison on what was her first jump.

He said mother-of-four Ms Taylor, who lived in Totnes, Devon, was divorced, partially sighted and not employed.

Mr Harrison, of Bournemouth, Dorset, was a single student and a skydiving instructor by occupation, the coroner added.

Mr Spinney said: “The parachute did not open as expected and they died as a consequence of the injuries sustained in the fall.”

Mr Spinney added Mr Harrison and Ms Taylor’s bodies were found in a field near the aerodrome in east Devon.

Tributes paid to Ms Taylor, who been bought the skydive by her partner Scott Armstrong, described her as an “adrenaline junkie” and an “absolute nutcase who just loved adventures”.

A tribute from Bournemouth’s Health Sciences University, where Mr Harrison was a master of chiropractic student, said his “warmth, openness and positivity touched the lives of all who knew and worked with him”.

Devon and Cornwall Police said inquiries, which involved governing body British Skydiving and East Devon District Council, were ongoing.