For most 16-year-olds, birthdays are marked with a party, presents, and time with friends. But for Joel Earp, his 16th birthday was a chance to do something extraordinary - jumping 15,000 feet from a plane in honour of his dad, Inspector Gareth Earp.

On 10 August, Joel took to the skies above Swansea, ready to tick a lifelong ambition off his bucket list while raising money for Care of Police Survivors (COPS), a charity that has supported him and his family over the last two years.

Joel was just 13 when his dad, Gareth, died at 43, died in a road traffic accident as he travelled home from work on the A470 near Rhayader on 29 June 2023.

“I’ve always wanted to do a skydive - it was on my bucket list,” explained Joel, who has raised more than £1,200 for the charity.

16-year-old Joel Earp

“When I found out you could legally do it from the age of 16, I thought my birthday would be the perfect time. 

“It was something I really wanted to do, and it was amazing to be able to raise money for COPS at the same time.”

Like anyone about to step out of a plane, Joel admitted he felt a few nerves.

“I was a bit nervous at first, but as soon as I got on the plane, my nerves settled and I was just so excited,” continued the self-proclaimed ‘adrenaline junkie’.

“You get strapped to the instructor, there’s a quick bit of health and safety beforehand, and then you’re off.”

Incredible

Joel said that falling from 15,000 feet - the highest you can go in the UK - ‘was just incredible’. 

The money raised by Joel’s skydive is going directly to COPS, a charity that provides peer and emotional support to families of police officers who have died on duty. 

Joel and his family were first introduced to COPS shortly after receiving the devastating news about Gareth.

“At first, we didn’t know much about COPS, but since then, we’ve learned so much about the amazing work they do,” explained Joel.

As well as providing emotional support, COPS has helped fund driving lessons for Joel’s two brothers, Ethan and Theo.

“They’ve organised trips to places like Drayton Manor, and even sent us rock-painting and candle-making kits, which we do online with other families.”

And while Joel said that grieving for his dad was ‘never going to be easy’, the support the family has had from COPS has ‘helped us move forward’. 

He added: “That’s why I wanted to give something back - it’s a win-win. Raising money helps other families who go through what we’ve been through, and it was something I was genuinely excited to do.”

Reflecting on what his dad would have said about him jumping out of a sky-high plane, Joel said: “Dad would’ve been just as excited as me.

Daredevil

“It was a way of keeping his memory alive.” 

Joel’s mum, Tamsin - along with almost 20 other family members - ventured to Swansea to watch the daredevil jump from a plane.

“All we can do is do what we can to keep Gareth’s memory alive - and that is exactly what Joel has done by doing this skydive,” she said.

“I’m super proud of him. Joel’s always wanted to take on the challenge, but doing it for his dad makes it even more special.”