'Heartbroken' family of popular influencer Hari Harris share funeral details as inquest into his death is opened
An inquest has been opened into the death of a hugely popular lifestyle influencer who died tragically after falling down the stairs at home.
Social media sensation Hari-Josh Harris died in hospital last Tuesday, February 11 after falling in the early hours of the morning two days earlier.
He had more than 96,000 followers on TikTok and 57,000 on Instagram and was friends with top “cleanfluencer” Mrs Hinch.
The 29-year-old’s mother Jane and his brothers were at Shropshire Coroner’s Court at Guildhall, Shrewsbury, where an inquest into his death was opened.
The court was told that paramedics were called to Hari’s home in Woodcote Way, Monkmoor, Shrewsbury at around 1.35am after he suffered an unwitnessed fall.
Hari’s brother heard the sound of the fall and called for an ambulance when he discovered what had happened.
The court was told that Hari hit his head on a handrail and a cupboard, but was able to make his own way into the ambulance. He was unable to state what caused the fall.
Hari was taken to Royal Shrewsbury Hospital, where his consciousness deteriorated and it was discovered he had suffered a subdural hematoma - a brain bleed - and extensive fractures to his face.
He was transferred to Royal Stoke University Hospital for neurocritical care and had an operation.
However, he suffered a large swelling to his brain and sadly died on February 11.
John Ellery, senior coroner for Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin, adjourned the inquest to be held in full on a date later in the year.
After the hearing, Jane told the Shropshire Star: “We are just totally heartbroken. We’ve had that many messages of support from people all over. He brought so much joy to so many lives.”
Hari went to Wilfred Owen Primary School and Belvidere Secondary School as a boy, before studying at Shrewsbury College.
He had part time jobs at McDonald’s in Meole Brace, as well as Starbucks and River Island in Shrewsbury.
He was working at Furrows car dealership in Harlescott as a creative media marketing assistant at the time he died.
Thanks to his personality and the power of social media, Hari’s popularity spread far further and wider than Shrewsbury.
His “hint’s, tips and tricks” for DIY and home improvements gained him a huge following online, and he made friends with Sophie Hinchcliffe, aka Mrs Hinch, who has appeared on This Morning and sold thousands of books.
“We’ve had private messages from her about the first time they met and how much their friendship meant to her,” Jane said.
He also loved travelling and would make videos on hotels he stayed at to help give tourism a boost.
“He loved helping people out, not just on social media,” Jane addd. “A man in the street collapsed once and he stopped to phone an ambulance when other people didn’t.”
Despite having a busy life, his family said that Hari spent a lot of time looking after his grandparents.
“They absolutely adored him,” said Jane. “They’re struggling to come to terms with it.”
She also said Hari’s pet chihuahuas Tallulah and Prince are missing him.
“A lot of people have said he lit up a room,” Jane said. “I don’t think they say it just because it’s the right thing to say. They say it because it’s true.
“He was always smiling. He had the biggest smile.”
Hari’s funeral will take place at Shrewsbury Abbey on Saturday, March 1 at 11.30am. That will be followed by a 1pm service at Shrewsbury Crematorium and a wake at The Monkmoor pub in Monkmoor Road.
"We want to make it a celebration," Jane said.
The dress code will be formal/glam/colours, and any donations made will go towards Royal Stoke University’s critical care unit.
